CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland officials will suspend 63 police officers for their roles in a November high-speed chase that left two unarmed suspects dead after a maelstrom of police gunfire.
The officers are not among the 13 who on Nov. 29 collectively fired 137 rounds at Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams near an East Cleveland middle school after the suspects led police on a full-tilt pursuit.
Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath said 178 suspension days will be distributed among 63 officers who violated police protocol when they participated in the chase. The maximum suspension will be 10 days, McGrath said.
“Under a stressful, tactful situation, it’s more important to follow your rules and procedures than ever before, or you may have some type of chaos or problems,” McGrath said.
Two more officers will receive disciplinary letters. Nine others will receive non-disciplinary letters of instruction, McGrath said.
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| An officer investigates the scene of a police-involved chase and shooting that left two suspects dead outside Heritage Middle School in East Cleveland Nov. 29. |
The discipline will conclude the second of three phases in the city’s response to the chase, Mayor Frank Jackson said.
The first phase ended in June when officials fired one police supervisor, demoted two and disciplined nine others.
The third phase will deal with the 13 officers who opened fire on Russell and Williams.
“We have afforded everyone due process,” said Mayor Frank Jackson. “There have been extensive hearings conducted by both [McGrath] and his people and [Safety Director Martin Flask].”
The deadly chase began in downtown and escalated when officers reported hearing a shot fired from Russell's car as it drove past the Justice Center.
Russell, with Williams in the passenger seat, tried to ditch police during a 23-minute chase through downtown, Bratenahl and East Cleveland.
Officers opened fired after Russell attempted to ram police with his vehicle, officials said.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner said Russell was shot 23 times, and Williams 24.
More than 100 officers on duty the night of the shooting had some involvement in the chase, officials said.
The 13 officers who shot to death Russell and Williams are still under investigation by Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty, McGrath said.
Jeff Follmer, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association, said the union will challenge the suspensions through arbitration.
“The suspensions are not consistent with what other officers received after similar chases,” Follmer said. “I think the department is responding to public pressure in this case.”
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