COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--An independent review of the Columbus Police Department's response to last summer's protests downtown showed the agency was not prepared for the size and energy of the activity.
The review was conducted by the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University, with former US District Attorney Carter Stewart also part of the team.
It said CPD was not aware of the community's attitude toward law enforcement, in the wake of the death of George Floyd. It also exposed issues in training for crowd control tactics, and communication issues between city leaders and CPD commanders.
Stewart also pointed out low morale among officers, and a rift between CPD leadership and rank-and-file personnel.
The report also came with recommendations, including considering the impact of the sight of riot gear, training in the proper use of tear gas, and training for future scenarios.