Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno has sent a letter to the newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, pressing for a critical examination and possible dismissal of consent decrees in various cities, particularly spotlighting the one in Cleveland. In comments relayed through his press office, Moreno said, "Law enforcement officers need to be able to do their jobs and enforce the law without politicians holding them back." This request comes on the heels of Bondi's recent stepping into office, as reported by WKYC.

The senator cited a Supreme Court case in 1994 as a basis for the review, suggesting that President Obama's administration made procedural missteps in filing these decrees. Moreno pointedly mentioned the "137 shots" incident and the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice as precedents for the decree while questioning its current relevance, according to Cleveland19. However, critics, such as Black Lives Matter Cleveland and the Tamir Rice Foundation, fear that dismissing the decree could roll back progress in police reform and further strain community trust.

Since the decree was enacted in 2015, the Cleveland Police Department has been under the watch of federal monitors, working on reforms related to using force and community policing, among other matters. The most recent assessment indicated significant progress yet highlighted community engagement and transparency deficiencies. Cleveland Deputy Police Chief Jarod Schlacht expressed a nuanced view, acknowledging the decree's toll on officers while emphasizing their commitment to improvement and constitutional policing, as he told WKYC.

Further backing a possible revaluation of the consent decree, Cleveland City Council Safety Committee Chairman Michael Polensek noted the police department’s significant improvements over the years, hinting at the feasibility of moving past the decree. He told News 5 Cleveland, "I believe there's been big improvements within the Cleveland Division of Police from the standpoint of accountability, professional conduct and transparency but I'm also mindful of how we got here." The considerable monitoring cost, which includes a notable hourly fee for the federal monitor, is also a factor in these discussions.

While Moreno's letter emphasizes the potential procedural loophole for the DOJ to act, the extent of the implications remains unclear. Case Western University School of Law's Jonathan Entin expressed uncertainty concerning the validity of Moreno's procedural challenge, noting the possible oversight or mistakes made in the past. With the DOJ's position on the matter not yet publicized, and given the complexity of the circumstances dating back years before the Cleveland decree was penned, the city, the DOJ, and those involved will likely exercise caution before making a final judgment.