Prohibition on Hate Group Affiliation

Columbus City Codes tit. 19, ch. 1943

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 1943.01 Definitions

1943.01 - Definitions As used in this section: A. "Affiliation" means donating to, being a member of, or participating in activities including attending meetings, social media groups, or rallies organized by or executed on behalf of a hate group. B. "Hate group" means any group that advocates for violence or the commission of crimes against a group of persons based on their race, ethnicity, nation, religion, disability, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. (Ord. No. 1817-2020, § 1, 7-27-2020)

Columbus City Codes § 1943.02 Hate group affiliation prohibited

1943.02 - Hate group affiliation prohibited A. To mitigate disruption and to maintain loyalty, morale, and harmony with their fellow officers and the community they serve, no candidate for employment, recruit, sworn police officer, or employee of the Columbus Division of Police shall affiliate with a hate group. B. This section does not apply to Division personnel when affiliation is necessary for conducting official duties. (Ord. No. 1817-2020, § 1, 7-27-2020)

Columbus City Codes § 1943.03 Removal from candidacy

1943.03 - Removal from candidacy A candidate for employment with the Division of Police that is determined, under the existing regulations or background standards, by the Civil Service Commission or the Division of Police to have violated Section 1943.02 shall be automatically removed from candidacy. (Ord. No. 1817-2020, 1, 7-27-2020)

Columbus City Codes § 1943.04 Directives to Division of Police

1943.04 - Directives to Division of Police A. The Division of Police shall adopt policies that prohibit sworn officers of the Division of Police and employees of the Division of Police from affiliating with hate groups and shall disseminate those policies to all sworn officers and employees of the Division of Police. B. The Division of Police shall adopt an Oath of Office to be administered to new officers at the time of swearing in and existing officers each time they receive a promotion that includes a prohibition for Division of Police sworn officers from affiliating with hate groups. C. The Division of Police shall adopt policies to be incorporated in to the Rules of Conduct and Code of Ethics that prohibit sworn officers of the Division of Police from affiliating with hate groups. (Ord. No. 1817-2020, § 1, 7-27-2020; Ord. No. 2142-2020, § 1, 10-5-2020)

Columbus City Codes § 1943.05 Penalty

1943.05 - Penalty Any recruit, sworn officer or employee of the Columbus Division of Police that violates Section 1943.02 is subject to disciplinary action as specified in the governing collective bargaining agreement. (Ord. No. 1817-2020, § 1, 7-27-2020)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT19POFIDICO_CH1943PRHAGRAFFetched: 10/27/2026