A top police oversight job in Cleveland is open again. Public Safety Inspector General Shayleen Agarwal has submitted her resignation and will officially leave the role Sept. 30.
Cleveland’s consent decree — the 2015 agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to reform police practices — required the city to create the inspector general position. The IG’s job is to review police policies and practices, analyze trends and conduct investigations.
Agarwal told the city in her resignation letter that she needed to step away from the job to care for an ailing parent. She also referenced the changing police oversight winds at City Hall.
“In addition, given the City’s changing direction regarding public safety oversight and the resulting uncertainty around the role, structure, and long-term stability of this position, I believe this is the appropriate time for me to step away,” she wrote.
Cleveland and the Justice Department moved to end the consent decree earlier this year. U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver denied the request, and the Trump administration is now appealing that decision.
The job was vacant from early 2021 until the city hired Agarwal in December 2024. She’s now on leave. Before Agarwal, Christopher Viland served as the city’s first police inspector general from 2019 to 2021.
City spokesperson Jorge Ramos Pantoja told Weekly Chatter that Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration will work with safety officials and the Community Police Commission to fill the job.
“The City recognizes the importance of this role and is committed to a comprehensive interview process to ensure the selection of a qualified candidate who can help advance the City’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and community trust before a final appointment is made,” he wrote in an email.
The job posted July 13 at a salary range of $100,000 to $140,000.
If you’re in the market for other city jobs…
Cleveland’s Department of Economic Development is hiring a Downtown investment manager. What better time to jump in than in the wake of Heinen’s closure on East 9th Street?
The investment manager’s task is to help businesses locate or expand downtown and serve as a contact for council members and community development corporations. No pressure.
In our summer of heat-wave power outages, another set of job openings may matter more to the average resident. Cleveland Public Power, the city-owned electric utility, is hiring a senior lineman, senior cable splicer and chief electric transmission officer.
Have questions about power outages (whether from CPP or FirstEnergy)? Drop us a line at the bottom of this post.
