1. The Cleveland Police Department is deeply corrupt.

First off, it needs to be noted that the Cleveland Police Department was first cited for corruption and brutality by the Department of Justice 10 YEARS AGO when President Bush was in office, but the department did not enter into a binding agreement to make systemic changes.

After the most recent investigation by the Department of Justice into the Cleveland PD, one of the worst reports a police department has ever received was issued by the DOJ in December 2014, detailing case after case of police brutality and violence suffered by the citizens of Cleveland, calling it an "unconstitutional pattern and practice of police brutality." The summary letter from the Department of Justice detailing this is below. The Cleveland Police Department is now in a binding agreement to make sweeping changes, but such reforms are much easier said than done. Even if all you can do is take a glimpse, it's worth your time.





Articles Detailing the Corruption of the Cleveland Police Department

—Justice Department and City of Cleveland Agree to Reform Division of Police After Finding a Pattern or Practice of Excessive Force

—Feds Find Shocking, Systemic Brutality, Incompetence In Cleveland Police Department

—Cleveland police has pattern of excessive force

—Justice Department wants sweeping changes in Cleveland Police Department; report finds "systemic deficiencies"

—Cleveland Police Cited for Abuse by Justice Department

The culture of brutality and incompetence in the Cleveland Police Department must be considered when you analyze the shooting death of Tamir Rice. For it was only such a poorly managed department in which Timothy Loehmann would've ever been hired in the first place.

-----

2. The Cleveland Police Department tragically failed Tamir Rice when they ever hired Timothy Loehmann without checking his disturbing background.

It's nearly impossible to find a documented case of someone less qualified to have a badge and a gun than officer Timothy Loehmann. It's frightening, when reviewing the evidence, to think that he was ever hired and makes one wonder how many other times police departments have completely ignored human resource files when making hires for those expected to protect and serve us.

In 2012, Timothy Loehmann was hired by the Independence, Ohio, Police Department. Even then, it was a mistake to hire him, but the department later tried to make it right. Below is Timothy Loehmann's entire personnel file from the Independence Police Department for you to review for yourself. Important highlights have been noted below it.

—Starting on Page 46, we learn that Loehmann had unsuccessfully applied for jobs in multiple police departments between 2010 and 2012, including the New York Police Department, but wasn't hired by any of them.

—On Page 46, we learn that Loehmann, 23 years old at the time, had never held a full-time job in his life and that he was currently working a part-time maintenance job for $8 an hour.

—On Page 53 we learn that Loehmann was officially hired by Independence on July 17, 2012.

—The most essential readings in Loehmann's personnel file begins on Page 56.

—On Page 56 we learn that less than four months into his training with the department, critical failures are being noted with Loehmann by his superiors:



On this date, during a state range qualification course Ptl. Loehmann was distracted and weepy. He could not follow simple directions, could not communicate clear thoughts nor recollections, and his handgun performance was dismal. Sgt. Tinnirello tried to work through this with Ptl. Loehmann by giving him some time. But, after some talking it was clear to Sgt. Tinnirello that the recruit was just not mentally prepared to be doing firearm training. Sgt. Tinnirello stored the recruit's weapons and I advised Sgt. Tinnirello to continue the training day to see how Ptl. Loehmann progressed. Sgt. Tinnirello and Ptl. Loehmann then continued out to Painesville to pick up some more of Ptl. Loehmann's gear that had arrived in the store. During this drive, Sgt. Tinnirello continued to speak with Tim about his problems, and Ptl. Loehmann continued with his emotional meltdown to a point where Sgt. Tinnirello could not take him into the store, so they went to get something to eat and he continued to try and calm Ptl. Loehmann. Sgt. Tinnirello describes the recruit as being very downtrodden, melancholy with some light crying. Sgt. Tinnirello later found this emotional perplexity was due to a personal issue with Ptl. Loehmann's on and off again girlfriend whom he was dealing with till 0400 hrs the night before.(Pti. Loehmann was scheduled for 0800 the morning in question). Some of the comments made by Ptl. Loehmann during this discourse were to the effect of,"I should have gone to NY","maybe I should quit", "I have no friends","I only hang out with 73 yr old priests","I have cried every day for 4 months about this girl." Sgt. Tinnirello also found from Ptl. Loehmann that these events had happened once before about three months ago while in the Police Academy but the Capt. ofthe Academy was able to calm him.(Sgt. Tinnirello later verified that with Capt. Bamhard of the Cleveland Heights Police Academy. It was reported to us as an isolated incident, and after counseling by Capt. Barnhard, Ptl. Loehmann did finish the Academy satisfactorily.)

At this point when Sgt. Tinnirello and Ptl. Loehmann reported back to IPD, and these events were reported to me,I decided to send Ptl. Loehmann home for the day, and made sure his well-being was protected by contacting his family.

There were three other incidents reported to me by Sgt. Tinnirello concerning Ptl. Loehmann. Individually these events would not be considered major situations, but when taken together they show a pattern of a lack of maturity, indiscretion and not following instructions. When Ptl. Loehmann was issued his firearm he was told that it needed to be secured

when he was not working. If the weapon was not with him, then it needed to be secured

in his locker or the arsenal. Ptl. Loehmann was given a locker assignment, and he was

later asked by Sgt. Tinnirello whether he had a lock for his locker. Ptl. Loehmann stated,

`yes". The next day when Sgt. Tinnirello was in the locker room he noticed that Ptl.

Loehmann's locker did not have a lock on it. So he asked Tim if he had a secured locker.

Ptl. Loehmann then told Sgt. Tinnirello that he had a lock, like he was asked; he just

didn't have time to put it on the locker because it was at home. So, Ptl. Loehmann had

Left his firearm in his locker overnight, unsecured, after being told that was not

acceptable. There was another incident where Sgt. Tinnirello told Ptl. Loehmann to sit in Dispatch

for part of his orientation and he would come and get him later. A little while later, Sgt.

Tinnirello came into the Patrol Room and saw Tim there. He asked Tim why he was

upstairs and he told Sgt. Tinnirello that the Dispatchers said he was done and to come

upstairs. Later in the day while driving around the City, Ptl. Loehmann confesses to Sgt.

Tinnirello that he had come upstairs from Dispatch on his own,"that the Dispatchers

never told him to come upstairs." When Ptl. Loehmann was issued his bulletproof vest he was told by Sgt. Tinnirello to wear it in order to get used to it. Approximately 1/2 hours later, when checking in with Tim, back down in Dispatch he found Ptl. Loehmann with no vest on. When he was questioned as to why it was off, Ptl. Loehmann stated, "that he was too warm, so he took it off."

That theme was repeated many times by Ptl. Loehmann, even him stating,"I will work here as long:as possible; and do my best, but if I find I don't like it then I will go do something else. I found this lack of commitment to us, disturbing. It just appears that he is not mature enough in his accepting of responsibility or his understanding in the severity of his loss of control on the range.

These are the deficiencies as noted: Emotional Immaturity Ptl. Loehrnann's inability to perform basic functions as instructed, and his inability to

emotionally function because of a personal situation at home with an on and off again

girlfriend leads one to believe that he would not be able to substantially cope, or make

good decisions, during or resulting from any other stressful situation. This ongoing

personal relationship should not have whole-fully consumed him that he would not be

able to follow simple direction, especially after being given a reasonable amount of time

to collect himself. Circumventing Direction It appears from the pattern developing within our short time frame with Ptl. Loehmann

that he often feels that when told to do something, that those instructions are optional,

and that he can manipulate them if he so feels it can better serve him. I do not say he is

doing this for some benefit, or in an insubordinate way, but he just appears to have the

mind set that if he thinks he knows better, than that is the course he follows.

Recommendation Due to this dangerous loss of composure during live range training and his inability to

manage this personal stress, I do not believe Ptl. Loehmann shows the maturity needed to work in our employment. Unfortunately in law enforcement there are times when instructions need be followed to

the letter, and I am under the impression Ptl. Loehmann, under certain circumstances,

will not react in the way instructed. Ptl. Loehmann's lack of commitment for his future here at Independence is disconcerting.

Although saying he is happy to be here, he seems to be considering other options. For these reasons, I am recommending he be released from the employment of the City of Independence. I do not believe time, nor training, will be able to change or correct these deficiencies.

—On Page 57, the complaints against Loehmann begin to pile up. Three separate incidents are reported and questions begin to be asked regarding whether or not he could ever be a competent police officer:—On Page 58, his supervising officers note that they are disturbed by the lack of commitment to the police department being expressed by Loehmann during their interview of him. His superiors note:—On Page 59, the supervising officers listed their grave concerns about the deficiencies demonstrated by Loehmann:—Then, finally, on Page 59, his supervising officer makes his final recommendation that will ultimately lead to the decision to terminate his employment with the department:—On Page 60 the supervisors of the Independence Police Department meet with Loehmann on December 3, 2012, to let him know his employment is being terminated. He offers his resignation there on the spot for "personal reasons."

—On Pages 61-62, the final two pages of his personnel file, a report from his supervising officer, Sergeant Tinnirello, was attached. It details a disturbing incident on the gun range just one week prior to their final decision to fire him. This incident alone was enough for Loehmann to never be hired by another police department again:



On November 28, 2012 probationary Officer Tim Loehmann came to work at 0600 hrs. He appeared to be.sleepy and upset. In the past days with Ptl. Loehmann he had shared with me that he was having trouble with his girlfriend. Ptl. Loehmann and I went down to IPD range to qualify him on the State of Ohio gun qualifications. During the

qualification Ptl. Loehmann was distracted and was not following simple instructions. PtI. Loehmann went to the back ofthe range to reload his magazines and could

not return to the shooting line. He was emotionally upset and appeared to be crying. I

asked several times if he was ok and Ptl. Loehmann stated "I need a minute." After

several attempts to get Ptl. Loehmann to return, I decided that he was not fit to return and had him sit down. He expressed to me again that the situation with his girlfriend was

upsetting him and he was still emotionally upset and crying. Concerned for his well

being I took PtI. Loehmann's gun belt and gun from him and secured it in a safe location. I gave him a few minutes to pull himself together, and I notified Chief Nicastro and

Deputy Chief Polak of the situation. We decided to stop firearms training and to go out

to Atwells Police Supply to pick up Ptl. Loehmami's Bullet Proof Vest. During the forty minute drive out to Atwells, Ptl. Loehmann remained emotionally upset. He informed me that during his time at the Cleveland Hts. Police Academy he had a similar situation happen and Captain G. Barnard had to counsel him. He stated his Girlfriend broke up with him for four months and he cried every morning

for four months. When we arrived at Atwells Police Supply Ptl. Loehmann was still

upset and I felt he needed more time to get his emotions under control. I took him out for breakfast and talked with him. During our time at breakfast Ptl. Loehmann expressed

that he was unclear on were his future was headed. I explained to Ptl. Loehmann that he

could not be released from the FTO program until IPD knew he could handle the job. Ptl.

Loehmann stated "thatjust makes me want to quit." As we talked about being

emotionally ready for duty and the events of the morning Ptl. Loehmann became agitated. He stated to me as if he was thinking out loud "what I want is for you to shut up." Ptl.

Loehmann wasn't even looking at me when he made the statement and seemed to be

distracted as if the statementjust came out under stress. We finished breakfast and went to Atwells Police Supply and returned to the

station without further incident. I directed Ptl. Loehmann to dispatch for training and I

inet with Deputy Chief Polak. We decided to send Ptl. Loehmann home for the day and

meet with him on November 29, 2012 at 0830. When I met with Ptl. Loehmann and

informed him that he was going home. He stated he didn't want to go home but understood why we were sending him home. I noticed again he was becoming emotionally upset and asked him if he need Counseling, he stated no. I asked him if he was thinking about hurting himself and he stated no. I repeated that we would do whatever we could to help him if he needed counseling but he again stated he was good. As he was leaving the department I noticed he was even more upset. Concerned for Ptl. Loehmann I attempted to contact his father or his mother. I was able to reach Marie Loehmann at her work. I informed her of the situation and she stated she knew there was a problem but Ptl. Loehmann did not share details with her. She informed me that as Ptl. Loehmann was going through the Cleveland Hts. Police Academy his study papers would be soaked in tears nightly for three months because of the problems with his girlfriend. I asked her to contact him and see if there was anything we could do to help him. She asked if her husband could contact me and I gave her my personal cell phone number. I expressed to her that we were concerned about Tim and that we would do whatever it took to get him the help he needed. After getting off the phone with Mrs. Loehmann I called the Cleveland Hts. Police Academy and talked with Captain G. Barnard. He informed me that during one of

Ptl. Loehmann's classes he noticed he was falling asleep. He stated he counseled Ptl.

Loehmann once about sleeping in class. During their talk Ptl. Loehmann told Captain

Barnard that the reason he was falling asleep was because ofthe situation with his

girlfriend. Captain G. Barnard stated Ptl. Loehmann corrected his behavior and he did

not have another problem with him the rest of the Academy. He also stated he did not

notice any unusual behavior with Ptl. Loehmann and he seemed to get along with others

in his class. I started Ptl. Loehmann introduction to the FTO program on November 19, 2012.

We spent approximately 10-12 hrs days together. During that time period there are

several events that should be noted. I issued Ptl. Loehmann a locker and instructed him to put a lock on it ASAP. IPD officers keep their firearms in their lockers, and when I

issued Ptl. Loehmann his firearm I asked him if he had a lock on his locker. He indicated

that he did, and I offered advice about keeping his duty gun at work. On November 28,

2012 when I went to put Ptl. Loehmanrt's gun belt above his locker I noticed there was no lock. When questioned about it, he stated he did not state he had a lock on the locker but had a lock at home. I asked him if he left his firearm unsecured in his locker and he

stated yes. Then I asked him why he didn't bring a lock in, he stated because he was

upset about his girlfriend. I also instructed Ptl. Loehmann to sit a dispatch on November 26,2012 to learn

how IPD Dispatch Center works. During that time he was called into the IPD report

room for an unrelated topic. I instructed him to return to dispatch and I would come get

him later. A short time later, I returned to the IPD report room and Ptl. Loehmann was

there. I asked why he wasn't in dispatch, he stated the Dispatchers informed him he was

done. I instructed him to return to Dispatch and to follow the instructions given him.

Later that day Ptl. Loehmann informed me that the Dispatchers did not tell him he was

done and that he had made it up.

A five-month tenure at a police department could hardly be worse than the five months Timothy Loehmann spent with the Independence Police Department. His supervising officers were long-suffering and attempted to help him through his emotional instability and incompetence, but it was just too much to overcome. More than any other statement in the 62-page report, though, was the final statement offered by his supervising officer, which should have precluded Loehmann from being hired in Cleveland or anywhere else. It states, "I do not believe time, nor training, will be able to change or correct these deficiencies."

It's this statement, and the accumulation of complaints about Loehmann's short tenure with the Independence Police Department that makes it so disturbing that the Cleveland Police Department now admits that when they hired him in March 2014 that didn't take even a cursory glance at his record or the harsh recommendations from his supervising officers.

We now learn, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, that Loehmann, in the months after he left Independence, applied for with police departments in Akron, Euclid, and Parma Heights, Ohio and was turned down.

Then, in September 2013, Loehmann failed the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department's written entrance exam, with a failing score of 46 out of 100. Note: 70 is the minimum score allowable for entrance.

Considering all of this, it is a tragic and fatal flaw in our system of government if such a person, in spite of the enormous evidence that he is not fit to be an officer of the law, was ever afforded the opportunity again. The position comes with too much power and the potential to inflict far too much harm for someone like Loehmann to ever hold it. Ultimately, his poor judgment and incompetence not only makes all officers look bad, but it cost a 12-year-old boy his life.

Below, Rachel Maddow shares just how high the odds were against Tamir Rice the day these two officers pulled up:



In spite of being available for nearly two months, the Cleveland Police Department just released the full video on January 7 from a security camera installed near the Cudell Recreation Center where Tamir and his sister were playing. Tamir literally lived directly across the street from the park and regularly used it almost like a front yard to hang out and have fun. Important annotations can be found below the video.



0:00 - 0:07 :: We see Tamir sitting at the park tables, hanging out, alone. His sister, who is also at the park, is out of sight of the camera.

0:08 - 0:16 :: We see Tamir get up from table and begin calmly walking toward what we soon see is the police car.

0:17 :: The police car, driven by officer Frank Garmback, first comes to a full stop, just feet away from Tamir Rice.

0:18 :: Within one second of the car stopping officer Timothy Loehmann opens his door and shoots Tamir Rice in the stomach without even fully getting out of the vehicle.

0:18 :: Tamir Rice is seen falling down from being shot.

0:20 :: Officer Timothy Loehmann, having gotten out of the passenger side, twists his ankle and falls down. Officer Garmback gets out of the driver's side of the vehicle.

0:20 - 1:40 :: Officer Loehmann literally stands behind the vehicle and massages his ankle for 80 seconds.

1:01 :: Officer Garmback can be seen using his radio to call dispatch.

NOTE :: Tamir Rice fought for his life in the hospital until the following day.

1:41 :: Tajai Rice, Tamir's 14-year-old sister, who was in the restroom when the shooting happened, is seen running to him from the left side of the screen.

1:44 :: Tajai Rice is tackled by Officer Frank Garmback.

1:46 :: Officer Loehmann comes over to assist Garmback.

1:48 - 2:45 :: Officer Loehmann stands by Tamir but does nothing at all.

1:51 - 3:00 :: Garmback and a new officer attempt to subdue Tamir's 14-year-old sister, Tajai.

NOTE :: A cell phone video was just released from this exact point in time.











3:01 :: Visiting officer attempts to lift Tajai off the ground and carry her, and she fights back. Her little brother is dying just feet away from her.

3:22 :: Apparently handcuffed, the police lock Tamir's sister, Tajai, in the back of the police car.

3:37 - 4:10 :: All three officers on the scene can be visibly witnessed just standing around, talking, away from Tamir, as he fights for his life. None of them is remotely interested in him and do nothing to care for him or offer any type of aid. His sister is locked in the car as he suffers alone.

4:01 :: A black sedan is seen pulling up. We later learn that an FBI agent who was in the neighborhood and heard the call is in the car.

4:07 :: The plain clothes FBI agent walks briskly onto the scene, speaks quickly to the officers, and immediately goes to Tamir.

4:17 :: The FBI agent crouches down to Tamir and is not seen getting back up for several minutes.

4:20 - 5:30 :: Three additional officers come on to the scene.

6:06 :: A young teenager enters the left side of the screen, looks at what is happening, and slowly backs away. Tamir's mother later says it was kids from the neighborhood who came and got her.

8:05 :: A mixed group of five officers and what appear to be two paramedics arrives on the scene.

11:37 :: Police tape can be seen being put up around the perimeter.

12:10 :: A stretcher is seen being taken to Tamir.

13:43 :: Tamir is taken away from the scene on the stretcher.

15:23 :: An officer can be seen talking to Tamir's sister, Tajai, through the window of the police car.

NOTE :: We later learn that Tamir's mother, Samaria, arrived on the scene and saw Tajai in the back of the police car and demanded they let her out. Samaria was then told that she could either stay with Tajai or go to the hospital with the ambulance with Tamir. Desperate, she was forced to leave Tajai in the police car while she left with Tamir.

19:09 :: Two officers go back to the police car to speak to Tajai, but do not let her out.

24:10 :: An officer goes back to the police car to speak to Tajai. She is left in the vehicle for the duration of the video until 29:56.

Below is the audio of the 911 call made by a local resident:



The 911 caller was actually very sincere. We could debate whether or not the police would've been called if Tamir Rice was white, but the caller appears to have very legitimately described what he saw—including Tamir's young age and the likelihood that the pistol was not real. He wasn't reporting a crime, but was reporting a concern.

These facts, tragically, were left out when the police dispatch operator radioed the call into local officers. In the dispatch, the operator leaves out the young age of Tamir, just 12, and the possibility that the gun was fake. Hear it below:



The police responded to the call, reporting what we now know was 12-year-old Tamir Rice with an unloaded and harmless air pistol, and shot him. He died the following morning at a local Cleveland hospital.

Not knowing that a camera recorded the entire incident, the police told what appear to be at least five lies about what happened.

1. Police said that Tamir Rice was seated at a table with other people.

2. Police said that as they pulled up, they saw Tamir Rice grab the gun and put it in his waistband.

3. Police said they got out of the car and told Tamir Rice three times to put his hands up but he refused.

4. Police said that Tamir Rice then reached into his waistband and pulled out the gun, and was then shot and killed by Officer Timothy Loehmann.

5. Police described the gun as looking real and later explained that the neon tip of the gun was missing.

MSNBC's Chris Hayes very adeptly narrates us through the video of the shooting to show us that these five essential points aren't true at all:



1. Tamir Rice was not seated at a table with other people. As you see, he was completely alone.

2. Tamir Rice does not appear to grab the gun and put it in his waistband.

3. As you saw, officer Loehmann shot and killed Tamir within just one second of the car stopping and absolutely could not have told him to put his hands up three times.

4. Tamir Rice absolutely does not pull the air gun out of his waistband and brandish it in any way. This fact is so crucial.

5. Because Tamir Rice never pulled the gun out on them, the police had no idea whether or not the gun was real or fake. When the police later held a press conference to report that the orange tip was missing from the air gun, it was implied that the police on the scene saw Tamir brandish a gun with the orange tip missing and shot him because they thought they saw a real weapon, but they did no such thing.

Soon, the local Cleveland media began the unthinkable and started a campaign of character assassination reporting that Tamir's father had been arrested for domestic violence and that his mother had had legal troubles before as well—implying that this background somehow should be reflected on how we view Tamir when it had absolutely nothing to do with what happened. To this day, nothing has been said of the legal background or personal history of either officer involved in Tamir's death.

As expected, the officer's father and the police union immediately claimed that the officer had no other choice but to shoot and kill Tamir, but how can that be true?

Virtually every other choice the officer could've made would have been better than the one he chose.

Why did the officers lie and say Tamir was with a crew of people?

Why did the officers lie and say Tamir brandished the weapon?

Why did the officers pull up so closely to Tamir?

Why did the officers lie and say they told Tamir to put his hands up three separate times when the video shows Tamir being shot within one second of the door opening?

Why did the department imply that the officers on the scene were confused about the gun being real or not?

Why did the officers on the scene absolutely ignore Tamir and refuse him any level of aid?

These questions, of course, are rhetorical. When the police completed their reports, it's my belief that they did not know the entire incident was being filmed and that they fully believed they could concoct a story that would perfectly fit their false narrative of being in harm's way.

Officer Timothy Loehmann should've never been there that day. In fact, he should've never been an officer for the Cleveland Police Department whatsoever. The video of Tamir's killing and the lies that were told in the police report, completely match the description of same Timothy Loehmann from the Independence Police Department in 2012 and the same Timothy Loehmann who failed his test for sheriff and was passed over by at least half a dozen other departments.

No, we don't need to wait for the facts to come out in this case. They are already out and Timothy Loehmann must be charged with a crime in this case. Enough evidence already exists to indict him. Sadly, the entire system in Ohio is so corrupt that Cleveland's mayor, Frank Jackson, says that he doesn't even trust the attorney general of Ohio, Mike DeWine, to handle the case fairly.

Justice is completely broken in this country, but it must be pursued and fought for at every turn. Anything less than a conviction in this case is unacceptable.