Has Policing Changed Since George Floyd?

Has Policing Changed Since George Floyd?

Hosted by COLERA

Program

Policing has changed in a variety of ways since the George Floyd and it continues to change based on the political views of elected leaders.   Some of the ways the policing has changed since George Floyd’s death are:

1. Many agencies updated use of force policies, often at the direction of elected (local or state) leaders to include bans on so-called chokeholds except when an officer’s life was at risk.
2. Training mandates have become more commonplace.
3. A greater emphasis was placed on law enforcement officers having a duty to render aid or intervene when another officer is using force inappropriately.
4. Several states adopted databases listing officers accused of misconduct with the goal of preventing bad officers from moving from agency to agency.
5. Some cities have adopted additional civilian oversight of police agencies or oversight from the federal government.
6. There has been a growing debate of changing the response to certain types of calls, mainly involving non-police personnel to respond to mental health crisis calls and so on.  Calls to “defund the police” because of a desire to shift who responds to certain calls or to reduce or limit policing also became a major talking point in politics.   This has largely disappeared.
7. Public trust in policing dropped at the time of the death and has since mostly rebounded.

Attendees will learn about the pros and cons associated with such potential updates to employers’ use of force policies, training mandates, databases for tracking of troublesome officers, and better oversight methods.

Speaker

Jay McDonald, FOP of Ohio President

Jay McDonald – Chief McDonald is a 32-year member of law enforcement in Ohio, currently serving as the Chief of Police in the City of Marion.  Beside leading his agency, Jay also leads the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio.   Chief McDonald has served on the Board of Trustees of the FOP of Ohio since 1999, including two stints as President.   He was President from 2010 until 2018, was elected again in 2024, and he continues to serve in that role.   Chief McDonald also served as the National Fraternal Order of Police Vice President from 2015 until 2019.

As the Ohio State Lodge President, Chief McDonald, was awarded the Jack Dudek Member of the Year Award at the National Board Meeting held in Cincinnati, OH, September 7-8, 2012.  He has worked for the Marion County Police Department since 1993, working his way to Major in 1997. He has been held in high regard by his peers, being nominated for Officer of the Year five times, and winning the award in 1998.

Chief McDonald has not only been active in his department, but also in his local lodge, the Steve Young Memorial Lodge 24. He has held a variety of positions in his local lodge before being elected to the state lodge.  Shortly after his election to the state lodge, in 2011, the Ohio State Fraternal Order of Police was called, along with other Ohio unions, to fight for bargaining rights across the state in response to Senate Bill 5. Chief McDonald lobbied for months, and the bill was eventually defeated.

Even with his demanding work schedule and being very active in the FOP, Jay manages to put his family first.  His wife Amy is also an FOP member, working for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and they have three wonderful children. Chief McDonald always finds time to attend school functions and sporting events, supporting his children.

Dates and Times

February 17, 2026   11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Location

Lower Level Meeting Room
FOP Building
222 East Town Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Take the elevator or the back stairs down to the lower level.

FREE Parking Available

Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown-Capitol Square by IHG,
175 East Town St, Columbus, OH 43215, is providing free parking in their lot! Also, metered parking available in front, or spaces in the lot behind the building off of Chapel Street.

Cost and Registration

Lunch-Included Ticket Costs

$25 for Members, with lunch included
$30 for Non-Members, with lunch included
$15 for Students, with lunch included

Non-Meal Ticket Costs

$10 for Non-Members, without lunch
$5 for Members, without lunch
Free for Students, without lunch

Refunds will not be offered unless requested more than 5 calendar days prior to the Event date.
Attendees must register by 12 PM on the day prior to the Event date to guarantee lunch will be available to them.