CINCINNATI (AP) -- The city's police union wants out of an agreement meant to improve relations with the black community after the 2001 race riots, saying the federal judge overseeing it is biased against the department.þþThe union's announcement Tuesday further unraveled the agreement already weakened when the Cincinnati Black United Front pulled out earlier this month. The activist group, frustrated by the slow pace of reform, got U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott's permission to pull out April 7.þþKenneth Lawson, a lawyer who represents the group, said it chose to focus on an economic boycott of the city. But police still have an obligation to stay and help reforms, he said.þþ``It's sad to see them leave,'' Lawson said. ``They want to work in communities where people respect them. Well, who's going to respect you now when you won't even sit down and try to work with the community?''þþOfficials with the Fraternal Order of Police said more than 200 members voted unanimously this week to pull out of the agreement and will soon ask Dlott to make it official.þþThe union said the judge -- who ruled against the city in three recent cases involving police and criticized the department when it allowed the Black United Front to withdraw -- believes police violate civil rights and engage in racial profiling.þþ``Now that the judge has let the Black United Front out, where is the mutual accountability? It's not there,'' union president Roger Webster said. ``The judge has let them go. We want out too.''þþA spokeswoman for Dlott said the judge had no comment.þþThe Justice Department entered into the agreement with the city following three days of rioting in April 2001 after a white police officer shot and killed a fleeing black suspect who was unarmed. The officer was later acquitted of charges of negligent homicide and obstructing official business.þþJustice Department spokesman Jorge Martinez said the union's decision will not affect a separate agreement between the government and the city to overhaul police operations and curtail excessive use of force.þþBut while that agreement remains in effect, its chances of making a difference are diminished. Mayor Charles Luken conceded that the police union's decision ``will make it much more difficult for the collaborative to have the kind of broad-based community support that is critical to its success.þþ
Source: NY Times
