Cleveland officials have finally handed down discipline to 13 officers involved in a Nov. 29, 2012 police chase in East Cleveland that led to a deadly barrage of more than 130 shots in less than 20 seconds, killing the car's two unarmed occupants, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams.
Six officers involved in the incident have been fired. Six more officers who shot their weapons during the barrage face suspensions ranging from 21 to 30 days, said Public Safety Director Michael McGrath, the former police chief. A total of 13 officers had been notified that they faced administrative discipline. One other officer retired from the force in 2015.
Among those fired was Patrolman Michael Brelo, who was acquitted of manslaughter charges in May for having fired the last 15 shots of the barrage.
City officials didn't identify other officers by name during the announcement but promised to release documentation about the discipline.
Disciplinary results: 6 officers terminated from employment, 6 officers suspended without pay from 21-30 days; 13th officer retired in 2015— Cleveland Police (@CLEpolice) January 26, 2016
The officers had been cited for joining the chase and leaving the city without permission. More seriously, some were cited for endangering other officers by creating a crossfire situation.
Steve Loomis, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association, the city's largest police union, blasted the decision as being "politically motivated" during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, saying, "We can't proactively police in this city because we can't chase guys."
CPPA Pres Steve Loomis calls city's disciplinary actions unprecedented and politically motivated pic.twitter.com/9t6KXCvXD6— Kristin Volk (@Kristin_Volk) January 26, 2016
The officers fired at a car after a high-speed chase that involved 62 police cruisers and more than 100 officers. It began when officers standing outside police headquarters mistook the sound of a beat-up Chevrolet Malibu backfiring as a gunshot.
Police show recreation of 13 officers firing a barrage of 137 shots at Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. @wkyc pic.twitter.com/Ix3ALDnaE2— Tom Beres (@TomBeres) January 26, 2016
6 officers fired for role in shootings of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams.@wkyc pic.twitter.com/T9yzNiRO7I— Tom Beres (@TomBeres) January 26, 2016
Of the officers who fired, only Brelo faced criminal charges. Prosecutors said he stood on the vehicle's hood and fired inside repeatedly after the car had stopped and its occupants were no longer a threat. Russell was hit by 24 shots, Williams by 23.
Mayor on admin review: "What we’ve talked about from the beginning is conducting a process that has due-process at its core and is fair”— City of Cleveland (@CityofCleveland) January 26, 2016
Defense attorneys said the officers involved in the chase and shooting had probable cause to believe the people in the car were a safety threat. Investigators later concluded Russell and Williams weren't armed.
The Brelo verdict inspired several days of unrest as activists took to the streets of Cleveland to protest the decision, leading to dozens of arrests.
Officers in riot gear in the Justice Center preparing for something pic.twitter.com/sVcCgDiKIH— Zack Reed (@zachreed12) May 23, 2015
In July, five police supervisors were charged with misdemeanors relating to their perceived failure to curtail the chase that led to the shooting.
Malissa Williams' family attorney tells me any discipline CPD officers face is "good" if leads to sustainable reform pic.twitter.com/wLOHyWMefo— Samah Assad (@SAssadWEWS) January 26, 2016
The shooting preceded a months-long U.S. Department of Justice investigation that concluded Cleveland police engaged in a pattern and practice of using excessive force and violating people's civil rights. The city negotiated an agreement to make changes overseen by an independent monitor.
The decision also comes as a grand jury decided not indict any officers involved in the deadly February 2014 shooting of Tamir Rice.