Our investigation concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe that CDP engages in a pattern or practice of using unreasonable force in violation of the Fourth Amendment. That pattern manifested in a range of ways, including:
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The unnecessary and excessive use of deadly force, including shootings and head strikeswith impact weapons;
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The unnecessary, excessive or retaliatory use of less lethal force including tasers,chemical spray and fists;
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Excessive force against persons who are mentally ill or in crisis, including in cases wherethe officers were called exclusively for a welfare check; and
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The employment of poor and dangerous tactics that place officers in situations whereavoidable force becomes inevitable and places officers and civilians at unnecessary risk.
So they have much larger problems than forms not being filled out correctly. Fortunately they do appear to be taking some steps to correct these issues.
After determining that a pattern or practice of unconstitutional conduct exists, the investigation assessed the causes for the pattern and developed recommended remedial action. The investigation concluded that Cleveland officers are not provided with adequate training, policy guidance, support, and supervision. Additionally, systems of review that would identify problems and correct institutional weaknesses and provide individual accountability are seriously deficient. The investigation found that division fails to:
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Adequately review and investigate officers’ uses of force;
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Fully and objectively investigate all allegations of misconduct;
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Identify and respond to patterns of at-risk behavior;
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Provide its officers with the support, training, supervision, and equipment needed to allow them to do their jobs safely and effectively;
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Adopt and enforce appropriate policies; and
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Implement effective community policing strategies.
There are cases where changing the training has been effective at reducing police killings as we’ve seen with Salt Lake City.
But It may be somewhat premature to presume that the firing of Loehmann and the retraining of Garmack is proof that these efforts are being implemented, but it is an improvement over what had been occurring over the previous two years with a string of acquittals and hung juries on cases of Officer involved killings as we’ve seen in Baltimore with Freddie Gray, South Carolina with Walter Scott, Albuquerque with James Boyd, Ohio with Terrence Crutcher, Cincinatti with Sam Dubose, and North Carolina with Jonathan Ferrell.
And those were in the cases where there was a trial, unlike the killings of Rekia Boyd, Phillando Castile, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Jeremy McDole, Jamar Clark, Keith Lamont Scott, Jonathan Crawford III and Darrien Hunt.
It may not bring true justice for Tamir — in truth because the inherent bias of presuming the predetermined guilt of black children and men, and the inherent innocence and goodness police within the American Justice system is so deep that it simply might not have been possible — but perhaps these changes might help prevent the next Rekia, Philando, Eric, Michael, Jeremy, Jamar, Keith, Jonathan, Darrien, Tamir, Freddie, Walter, James, Terrance, Sam and Jonathan.
Perhaps.
In this scene from the FOX TV Show Shot’s Fired Pastor Janae who has just been arrested and framed for killing a 17-year-old black child argues that the entire foundation of American Police began with the “Slave Patrols”
And she’s not wrong.
The birth and development of the American police can be traced to a multitude of historical, legal and political-economic conditions. The institution of slavery and the control of minorities, however, were two of the more formidable historic features of American society shaping early policing. Slave patrols and Night Watches, which later became modern police departments, were both designed to control the behaviors of minorities. For example, New England settlers appointed Indian Constables to police Native Americans (National Constable Association, 1995), the St. Louis police were founded to protect residents from Native Americans in that frontier city, and many southern police departments began as slave patrols. In 1704, the colony of Carolina developed the nation's first slave patrol. Slave patrols helped to maintain the economic order and to assist the wealthy landowners in recovering and punishing slaves who essentially were considered property.
The initial crime that birthed this nation is a legacy that stays with us, and we have a long, long way to go to fully resolve it America, a long way to go.