Cleveland Reaches Settlement With Justice Department Over Police Conduct

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: New York Times

CLEVELAND — The city of Cleveland has reached a settlement with the Justice Department over what federal authorities said was a pattern of unconstitutional policing and excessive use of force, people briefed on the case said Monday.

The settlement, which could be announced as early as Tuesday, comes days after a judge declared a Cleveland police officer not guilty of manslaughter for climbing onto the hood of a car and firing repeatedly at its unarmed occupants, both of them black. The verdict prompted hours of protests and reignited discussions about how police officers treat the city’s African-American residents.

For Cleveland, a settlement avoids a long and costly court fight and the appearance that city leaders are resisting change. Mayor Frank Jackson faces a recall petition from city activists who say, among other grievances, that he has not done enough to prevent police abuses. The Justice Department has called him a full partner in its effort to improve the police department.

<...>

The Justice Department’s report on the Cleveland Division of Police was among its most scathing. Investigators said last December that police officers unnecessarily used deadly force; used excessive force against mentally ill people; and inappropriately used stun guns, chemical sprays and punches. The report highlighted one case in which officers kicked an African-American man in the head while he was handcuffed and on the ground, then did not report using force in the arrest. The report was compiled too late to cover the death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was playing with a replica gun in a park last November when police shot him.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/26/us/cleveland-police.html

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The wheels of justice turn slowly but at least they are turning. Didn't know there was a recall petition circulating there!

[BumRushDaShow]

1. I rarely do this but to add

From the article -

The Justice Department has opened nearly two dozen investigations into police departments during the Obama administration. Federal investigators found patterns of unconstitutional policing in cities including Seattle, Newark, Albuquerque and Ferguson, Mo. Federal authorities recently announced they would investigate the police department in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died of injuries he suffered while in police custody.

It is rarely reported about how many investigations the DOJ WERE doing regarding police abuse - according to the above, almost "2 dozen". Sadly, many DUers insisted that nothing was being done at all.

The key piece will now be to get the proper reforms in place and this is going to require the municipalities to step up to the plate.

[Romeo.lima333]

2. 1st ive heard of any recall

[Demeter]

3. the Police will have to make a Settlement with the Citizens

or, rather, the city of Cleveland will have to clean the police house and make settlement with its citizens.