The blood of Casey Goodson and Andre Hill still stain the city of Columbus, Ohio. Both Black men were killed by law enforcement personnel in two separate high-profile encounters that occurred within weeks of each other in December.
And on Thursday, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther moved to replace Police Chief Thomas Quinlan, saying he’d lost trust in the top cop’s ability to reform the police agency. Ginther announced that Quinlan, 54, stepped down at his request and said a nationwide search will soon be underway to find his successor. Deputy Chief Mike Woods will serve in an interim role while the city looks for its next permanent police chief.
Columbus police chief ‘stepping back’ amid reform efforts after Andre Hill shooting
Facebook/Andre HillBy MEREDITH DELISO, ABC News
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) The chief of police in Columbus, Ohio, is “stepping back” following the death of Andre Hill, an unarmed Black man who was shot and killed by a police officer last month.
The city is now conducting a national search to replace Chief Thomas Quinlan, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced Thursday, who pointed to frustrations around reform efforts as the reason behind the change of command.
“It became clear to me that Chief Quinlan could not successfully implement the reform and change I expect and that the community demands,” Ginther said in a statement. “Columbus residents have lost faith in him and in the Division’s ability to change on its own. Chief Quinlan understood.”
By MEREDITH DELISO, ABC News (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — The chief of police in Columbus, Ohio, is “stepping back” following the death of Andre Hill, an unarmed Black man who was shot and killed by a police officer last month. The city is now conducting a national search to replace Chief Thomas Quinlan, Columbus Mayor Andrew [.]