CINCINNATI (AP) — James Craig's hiring as Cincinnati's first black police chief and its first chief from outside the department broke with tradition. And Craig doesn't hesitate to challenge other traditions if it can improve policing
He has already changed longstanding rules on police dress and work schedules to improve officers' working environment and boost morale and more changes are planned. He says improving officers' work environment helps with the main goal of reducing crime.
Craig also is challenging a longstanding rule requiring police officers new to Ohio to take an entry-level test to qualify as a peace officer in Ohio. Craig has declined to take the test saying it discriminates against experienced potential candidates for police agency jobs who come from outside the state.
