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Union President Denounces Dismissal Of Cops Involved In Tamir Rice Shooting Death

cleveland.com

The Cleveland police union president says the firing of the white officer who fatally shot a 12-year-old black boy was "unjustified" and "politically motivated."  Police Chief Calvin Williams announced discipline Tuesday against officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback related to the shooting of Tamir Rice at a recreation center in 2014 as he held a pellet gun. Loehmann shot Tamir. Garmback was driving their police cruiser.  The killing became part of a national outcry about police violence against black males.   Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association president Stephen Loomis say the union filed grievances against the disciplinary measures "within five minutes" after they were announced.   Police say Loehmann was fired for inaccuracies on his job application. Loomis says officers haven't been fired before for that reason.   Police say Garmback was suspended for violating a tactical rule over his driving. Loomis drew criticism for backing Donald Trump during last year's presidential campaign. Trump's Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, has ordered a review of all consent decrees the Justice Department signed with cities to address repeated police abuses of citizens civil rights. That review includes the consent decree with Cleveland.

 

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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