The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department announced changes to its pursuit policy Monday afternoon following a push from a local leader and reporting from News 5 regarding the deaths of two innocent bystanders earlier this year.
The revised policy states that deputies can only initiate a pursuit if the driver is "reasonably believed to have committed an offense of violence," the department said in a news release.
Watch our previous reporting on the policy change here:
RELATED: Cuyahoga County changing pursuit policy following push from councilwoman, News 5 reporting
Additionally, the revision provides clearer instructions on when deputies are permitted to initiate a vehicle pursuit, when a vehicle pursuit must be terminated, pursuit driving tactics, pursuit supervisory duties and pursuit after-action reporting, the department said. You can read the full policy here.
These changes resulted from months of reporting by News 5 Investigators and a push by Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Sunny M. Simon.
"I'm glad the sheriff and county executive worked with council to formulate a policy that minimizes risk and maintains safety," Simon said.
It was discussed at a city council meeting in late September, during which the Greater Cleveland NAACP spoke about News 5's reporting on who the Downtown Safety Patrol deputies pull over and the deadly chases.
With these revisions, the Downtown Safety Patrol will also be renamed Community Support Unit. The unit assists Beachwood, Cleveland, East Cleveland, Euclid, Lakewood and South Euclid.
Just this year, two women, Tamya Westmoreland and Sharday Elder, lost their lives in connection with pursuits involving the newly named Community Support Unit. Both women were innocent bystanders.
It was found that the same deputy, Kasey Loudermilk, was involved in both chases in which Westmoreland and Elder died.
RELATED: Cuyahoga County Council President raises concern over deputy chase policy and practice
Community reaction
Even though the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department is changing its pursuit policy, one family said it’s still not enough and is calling for justice for their loved one.
“They’re stepping, but they’re stepping slowly,” said Kimberly Elder. “It's not enough because it’s too many people dying from these chases.”
Every day is a hard reminder for Kimberly Elder and her family as they continue to mourn the loss of her niece, Sharday Elder.
“It’s not their family that’s going through it. It’s our family that’s getting hurt. People that’s getting hurt that’s innocent,” said Elder. “It’s too many people losing their life. It’s too many people.”
Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter Cleveland President LaTonya Goldsby said she wants to see more accountability, transparency and community input.
“There’s critical insight from folks that have lived experience that can be missing from those policy changes," said Goldsby.
For the Elder family, they said the loss of innocent lives is personal now that their lives are forever changed, so Elder and Simon have been fighting for changes to be made.
“I’m very grateful that we were able to get something together that’s going to protect the public and ensure that the risk to bystanders and innocent people can be mitigated," said Simon.
“There’s no law, no nothing to bring her back. The kids (are) lost without their mother, and I just want accountability,” said Elder.
Simon said if further issues come up, council will look to address them.
