Cleveland, DOJ Jointly Move to End Decade-Long Police Consent Decree

City and federal government agree Cleveland has met terms of 2015 agreement following excessive force findings.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The City of Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice have filed a joint motion in federal court seeking to end the city's 2015 police consent decree, which has governed reforms to the Cleveland Division of Police for nearly a decade. The filing marks a significant shift, as the city and the Trump administration's DOJ appear to have reached agreement that Cleveland has satisfied the terms of the consent decree, which was put in place after a federal investigation found a pattern of excessive force by city officers.

Why it matters

The consent decree was a major reform effort aimed at addressing issues of excessive force and civil rights violations within the Cleveland police department. Its potential termination signals that the city has made progress in implementing the required changes, though the court must still approve the motion.

The details

The joint motion filed by the city and DOJ will now go before U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr., who oversees the consent decree. A federal judge must approve any termination of the agreement. It is not immediately clear when the court would rule on the motion.

  • The consent decree was put in place in 2015 following a federal investigation.
  • The city and DOJ filed the joint motion to end the decree on February 19, 2026.

The players

City of Cleveland

The local government of Cleveland, Ohio that entered into the 2015 consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice.

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal agency that investigated the Cleveland Division of Police and negotiated the 2015 consent decree with the city.

U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr.

The federal judge overseeing the Cleveland police consent decree who must approve any termination of the agreement.

Mayor Justin Bibb

The current mayor of Cleveland who is scheduled to speak to reporters about the joint motion to end the consent decree.

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What’s next

The judge will now consider the joint motion and decide whether to approve the termination of the Cleveland police consent decree.

The takeaway

The potential end of the Cleveland police consent decree, if approved by the court, would mark a significant milestone in the city's efforts to reform its police department and address past issues of excessive force and civil rights violations.