CLEVELAND — "I want you guys to go. You are not good for the police or the citizens of this city."
One by one, Cleveland residents weighed in on their disappointment with the city's Community Police Commission, which is still less than two years old.
"It's not about this room," once concerned citizen said. "It's about folks that are going to have to suffer the consequences of what happens in this room "
What is happening in this room? Infighting, resulting in public talk of removing Commissioner Teri Wang.
"[There have been] multiple complaints from committee members [who have] witnessed and heard of attacks and experienced attacks against staff and commission members," Commissioner Piet van Lier alleged.
However, details of just what Wang is accused of have been vague, leaving some on the board to demand more information.
"If we believe that these charges, or these alleged charges, are egregious, then we need to identify what those egregious charges are," Commissioner Jan Ridgeway noted.
Wang serves on the Police Accountability Committee, with strong opinions on every issue and high standards as to how the Commission should be run.
"We were charged with independent and through and civilian oversight," she said Wednesday. "Not to be rubber-stamping things."
Wang also accuses some members of crossing lines in backdoor deals with the city
"I don't understand — what is the lack of transparency here?" she asked.
The Cleveland Community Police Commission is an independent civilian oversight body established by the passage of Issue 24 in 2021. It has the authority to make decisions on discipline for police misconduct, oversee and update police recruitment and training, and make policy recommendations on processes and procedures.
Unfortunately, it appears to be fractured at this time.
"We are a body of 13 people, and we cannot have one person who is unwilling to work with other people," Commissioner Shandra Benito said, referring to Wang.
Meanwhile, the community itself is frustrated.
"You guys cannot depend on the city of Cleveland for nothing, other than to approve your budget, put it in escrow and keep it moving," one woman declared.
Still, because the charges against Wang are so vague, the Commission did not vote to remove Wang just yet. Instead, they tabled the measure to allow her to work on her defense, while the opposition could give examples of times they say she has not been cooperative.