By Treva Reid, Executive Director, Holloman Center for Social Justice
The announcement from the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office — that the fatal police shooting of Ryan Hinton was a legally justified use of force — has once again shaken our community’s trust in a system that too often fails to deliver independent and transparent accountability.
Prosecutor Connie Pillich’s decision not to refer this case to a grand jury marks the fourth officer-involved shooting under her tenure that has bypassed this critical measure of citizen oversight.  Â
While the prosecutor cited a thorough investigation of body-worn camera footage and internal criminal legal review compliant with the law to support her conclusion, we believe this process shortchanges a grieving family, a hurting community, and the public’s right to full transparency and independent accountability.
The decision to bypass the grand jury process — and not allow an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) — undermines public confidence and reinforces concerns about systemic barriers to justice.
The family and community are left not only without Ryan but without the full weight of impartial due process his life deserved, and his family still demands. Â Â
Our community calls for increased measures and new standards that are independent, community-centered, and credible.Â
We call on Hamilton County leadership to commit to a policy shift that ensures all fatal officer-involved shootings are subject to independent grand jury review or BCI investigation moving forward. Such a shift is crucial to restoring public faith in a system too often viewed as self-protective and ambiguous.Â
This legal conclusion reaffirms and elevates our call for meaningful change. That is why the Holloman Center for Social Justice is advancing the next Policing in Hamilton County Report, driven by data, built on law enforcement partner engagement and the voice of the community. We invite every Hamilton County resident to participate in this community survey to help shape the policies and practices that govern policing in our neighborhoods. Your lived experience is vital to informing our advocacy recommendations and the changes we demand, along with the full attention and action of our leaders.
Established in 2020, the Holloman Center for Social Justice serves as a regional catalyst for collaborative police reform efforts between communities and police departments in Southwestern Ohio. We are committed to engaging in policy advocacy, data collection and reporting, community education and organizing to advance social justiceÂ