ABSTRACT
In the third case study the focus is on the epistemology of critical theory – and how the formulation and practices of AE can be transformative in conceptualizing and transforming notions of success. In 2001, Timothy Thomas, a 19-year-old African American man, was shot and killed by the police in Cincinnati, Ohio. Similar to deadly clashes occurring with increasing frequency around the U.S. today, a standoff ensued between the African American community and the police. Alternatively called “unrest” (by African American activists suggesting a rebellion to a long-term dynamic), and “riots” (by media, police and city officials suggesting a kind of spontaneous combustion), the moment for change was seized. A new momentum for action unfolds, as rage and fear were channeled into visioning for the future. A campaign was launched to “Get Out the Voice” for a new future, and some 3,500 people shared their visions for what it might look like. What did they want? Community-oriented problem-solving policing. Why did they care? They needed to be heard and respected. How did they want to implement their new vision? By fostering joint efforts – by police and with community partnership – to proactively and cooperatively address crime and disorder. Thus, the “Cincinnati Police-Community Relations Collaborative” was unfolded over a 12-month process. Policing was transformed in Cincinnati, and a new model was forged.
