Police groups take opposite sides in conflict between mayor, city manager

Leaders of two major police organizations took opposite sides in the ongoing conflict between City Manager Harry Black and Mayor John Cranley, who wants Black to resign, on Wednesday.  In a news conference, Louis Arnold Sr. said the Sentinels Police Association -- Cincinnati's black police group -- felt strongly Black should keep his post in order to maintain forward momentum for the Collaborative Agreement refresh.  "What I would love to see happen is the city manager remain in his position, the chief remain in his position, and they continue to work that collaborative refresh," Arnold, the Sentinels' president, said. "I don't think people understand how important that is to our city." The Collaborative Agreement is a document outlining best practices for police to form trusting partnerships and facilitate safe interactions with the communities they patrol, especially communities comprising largely black populations. It was created in 2002 after the shooting death of Timothy Thomas, a black teenager, at the hands of a city officer.  "Refreshing" the agreement entails revisiting and revising its original provisions to fit the social landscape of 2018. Arnold added he believed Black was "being attacked for doing his job" and criticized the leader of the police union -- Fraternal Order of Police president Dan Hils -- for negative comments about the city manager.