Welcome to the alternate universe of the Cleveland Police Department which exists to serve & protect itself....

 

Cleveland Police Union Chief Gives Most Surreal Interview Ever

By karoli December 16, 2014 6:00 am - 206

 

This has to be the most surreal interview ever aired on Chris Hayes' show. Guest host Ari Melber interviewed Jeffrey Follmer, head of the police union for Cleveland police.

 

While I understand that union officers are bound by duty to defend their members, it would have been better for Follmer not to to have given this interview at all, because he certainly did not make anything better.

 

After demanding an apology from Cleveland Browns football players for supporting the families of Michael Brown and Tamir Rice, Follmer appeared on Hayes' show to explain why he thinks an apology is due.

 

MORE:

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/cleveland-police-union-chief-gives-most

Hawkins' response to the criticism was a masterpiece.  Pretty much as close to beyond reproach as you can get on a sensitive subject such as this....

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/12/hawkins_delivers_emotional_res.html

Hawkins' response to the criticism was a masterpiece.  Pretty much as close to beyond reproach as you can get on a sensitive subject such as this....

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/12/hawkins_delivers_emotional_res.html

 

Can't find fault with that answer.... except I'm thinking a dad as clearly devoted as him is going to raise his son to have more respect than to point guns at people.  Still his perogative.

 

Can't really find fault with the shirt either, even though I have mixed feelings on the Tamir case.  The Crawford case was way out of line, as bad as the Ficker.  Which, by the way, the activists should mention if they aren't just trying to make this about race.

 

Follmer bit his tongue and tried to be conciliatory during his term, which is why Loomis won.  He's working on running again.

Can't find fault with that answer.... except I'm thinking a dad as clearly devoted as him is going to raise his son to have more respect than to point guns at people.  Still his perogative.

 

I fail to see the connection.  What in his answer made you think that he is not going to raise his son to have respect?  That loose inference runs completely opposite of the major theme of his response, IMO.

Can't find fault with that answer.... except I'm thinking a dad as clearly devoted as him is going to raise his son to have more respect than to point guns at people.  Still his perogative.

 

I fail to see the connection.  What in his answer made you think that he is not going to raise his son to have respect?  That loose inference runs completely opposite of the major theme of his response, IMO.

 

Re-read what I said, please.

Your comment reads to imply that Hawkins will not teach his son to "have more respect than to point guns at people". It reads as if doing this and working to fight current injustices in the system are mutually exclusive. I don't know if that was your intent, but that is how it reads.

I disagree. I read E Rocc's statement as Hawkin's empathy toward the Tamir Rice killing being brought upon by his own son is not entirely justified somehow, because he wouldn't allow his son to think menacing the public with a fake, but authentic looking toy gun is appropriate behavior.

I disagree. I read E Rocc's statement as Hawkin's empathy toward the Tamir Rice killing being brought upon by his own son is not entirely justified somehow, because he wouldn't allow his son to think menacing the public with a fake, but authentic looking toy gun is appropriate behavior.

 

At least you understand that I said I believe he will be the kind of dad that would teach his son that kind of respect.  But there's no statement that that empathy is unjustified.

 

Let me be clearer:  I don't have a problem with Hawkins's actions.

 

I really wish we could bring Dan Ficker into this discussion (I mean generally).  His omission makes me wonder if this is all about race. So does the implication that "all lives matter" is somehow racist.

^Nobody is stopping you from bringing him into the discussion.  Just because it is 3 years old (the most likely reason for the omission), does not mean it is off-limits.  Has anyone told you to drop it?  What is your opinion on that incident?  Was the cop guilty of something?

^Nobody is stopping you from bringing him into the discussion.  Just because it is 3 years old (the most likely reason for the omission), does not mean it is off-limits.  Has anyone told you to drop it?  What is your opinion on that incident?  Was the cop guilty of something?

 

I mean in general, of course.  The general conversation.  I do believe that some are trying to use this to encourage racial separatism.  The Ficker case, of course, does not fit that agenda.

 

IMNHSO, Ficker and Crawford did absolutely nothing wrong, though I can be convinced otherwise in the latter case because I don't know the bulk of the facts.  I firmly believe that if Ficker had been black, he'd be mentioned constantly in this context.  The problems that do exist vis a vis some officers were prominently on display here.

Has anyone attended the "Listening Tour" stops being done by City Cleveland Council, to hear resident concerns about police actions and the federal investigation?  I saw a few facebook pics from a recent stop on the east side.  Looked like there was maybe 20 people there.

Cleveland Heartless Felons gang issues orders to kill white police officers

 

By Ryllie Danylko, Northeast Ohio Media Group

 

on December 17, 2014 at 4:43 PM, updated December 17, 2014 at 7:33 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Heartless Felons gang gave its members orders to kill white police officers to avenge black lives taken by white police officers, including the Nov. 21 Tamir Rice shooting, officials said.

 

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office received the tip and deemed it credible enough to reach out to local police departments to make them aware of the threat.

 

http://impact.cleveland.com/metro/print.html?entry=/2014/12/cleveland_heartless_felons_gan.html

Cleveland Heartless Felons gang issues orders to kill white police officers

 

By Ryllie Danylko, Northeast Ohio Media Group

 

on December 17, 2014 at 4:43 PM, updated December 17, 2014 at 7:33 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Heartless Felons gang gave its members orders to kill white police officers to avenge black lives taken by white police officers, including the Nov. 21 Tamir Rice shooting, officials said.

 

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office received the tip and deemed it credible enough to reach out to local police departments to make them aware of the threat.

 

http://impact.cleveland.com/metro/print.html?entry=/2014/12/cleveland_heartless_felons_gan.html

 

I suspect they are very aware they have just made the area's police forces a lot more likely to shoot young black men who are noncompliant in ways that may seem threatening.

Yeah..... that is going to happen.  It's a threat the police can't ignore, but I highly, highly doubt it is legitimate, and even if it was stated, there is no intention to actually follow through.

 

IMNHSO, Ficker and Crawford did absolutely nothing wrong, though I can be convinced otherwise in the latter case because I don't know the bulk of the facts.  I firmly believe that if Ficker had been black, he'd be mentioned constantly in this context.  The problems that do exist vis a vis some officers were prominently on display here.

 

The Ficker case is over three years old.  One reason it might not have stirred any lengthy debate is because there was no reactionary, racially-motivated push back to any protest of the shooting like we automatically see each and every time a case like Crawford arises.

 

Didn't do anything wrong?  Ficker fought with the police officers and was shot in the course of that struggle.  Not after he ran away.  Not after the cops had him subdued.  Was he not a thug?  Have you seen his criminal history?  He had a history of being uncooperative with cops, was facing stalking/prowling charges, had repeated instances of being disorderly and making death threats.  The cops were investigated and cleared.  You can't legitimately compare that case to the Crawford case.  It is much more analogous, although certainly not the same given that the kill shots were fired DURING a struggle, as the Mike Brown case.

It is much more analogous, although certainly not the same given that the kill shots were fired DURING a struggle, as the Mike Brown case.

 

Yeah, when I read up on the Ficker case, my first thought was how it compares most to the Mike Brown case.  Was there evidence that materially contradicted the police account of what happened?

Nothing that I am aware of, other than the general presumption that Ficker was a swell guy based on outward appearance.

Just in case anyone sees Cowboy this weekend, let him know them people are looking for him.....

 

Cleveland men's argument over sexuality ends in sword attack

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An argument between two men over their sexuality ended with one attacking the other with a two-foot sword.

 

Three men were at an East 55th Street apartment Wednesday watching the Cleveland Cavaliers game and playing dominoes when the attack took place.

 

One of the men, a 48-year-old who goes by the nickname "Cowboy," accused a 44-year-old man of having homosexual tendencies.

 

The 44-year-old man fought back, saying he heard from several neighborhood men that Cowboy had homosexual tendencies.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/12/cleveland_mens_argument_over_s.html#incart_river

"Of having homosexual tendencies"

 

That's quite the sanitized description PD.

What/who is the Cudell neighborhood as described by someone who lives there....

 

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/12/come_take_a_walk_on_my_block_i.html

"Of having homosexual tendencies"

 

That's quite the sanitized description PD.

 

Count on the cle.com commenters to start off with a reference to swordfighting....

Cleveland Police hand off investigation into Tamir Rice shooting to county sheriff

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/01/02/cleveland-police-expected-to-hand-investigation-of-tamir-rice-shooting-to-county-sheriff/

 

Tanisha Anderson was restrained in prone position; death ruled homicide

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/tanisha_anderson_was_restraine.html

^ Looks like Mayor Jackson wants to avoid more embarrassment for the city and its elite police force.

With more people living downtown, rash of car break-ins in downtown Cleveland has residents on alert

Paul Kiska

5:30 PM, Jan 14, 2015

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cell phone video given to NewChannel 5 shows five cars with their passenger windows smashed out and police taking reports.

 

The thefts happened this past weekend in a parking lot at West 14th Street and Huron Avenue.

 

Seven more break-ins were reported nearby.

 

MORE:

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/with-more-people-living-downtown-rash-of-car-break-ins-in-downtown-cleveland-has-residents-on-alert

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/stolen_porsche_found_idling_in.html#incart_m-rpt-1

 

My guess (which I posted) is the thieves found out the car owner (or her SO) is way scarier than the police.  Why else leave a Cayenne unattended and running?

^Because it probably was just a joy ride.  You actually think they stole the car and then decided that the "car owner (or her SO) is way scarier than the police"?  That doesn't make sense.

^Because it probably was just a joy ride.  You actually think they stole the car and then decided that the "car owner (or her SO) is way scarier than the police"?  That doesn't make sense.

 

Two ways it makes sense (much more than leaving a stolen Cayenne running and undamaged).

 

1)  The little girl wakes up and says "my daddy is....".

 

2)  Mom calls the SO and he puts the word out into the grapevine/social media.

Well that would fit the stereotypes, wouldn't it?  I mean, a Cayenne.... the girl's daddy must be 'scary.'

 

How about the idea that the woman jumped in the car real quick intending to steal it and realized that there was a child in the back seat.  Realizing that she could get kidnapping charges on top of GTA, she panicked and bolted.

 

But, you're probably right.... the SO must've tweeted at her with some line from one of the Taken movies.

^As I'm sure you've noticed, Erocc is not a fan of Occam's razor.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/stolen_porsche_found_idling_in.html#incart_m-rpt-1

 

My guess (which I posted) is the thieves found out the car owner (or her SO) is way scarier than the police.  Why else leave a Cayenne unattended and running?

 

The same reason my car was stolen by an 18-year-old girl in Berea, and soon abandoned -- it was a dare from her friends. It was made worse by all of them smoking "wet" (marijuana joints dipped in embalming fluid). Turns out her grandmother was a civic leader in Berea and asked the cops to ask me to go easy on her. She used force to elude capture which made it a robbery, and that's the charge I urged with no leniency. The girl did three years of house arrest.

^Because it probably was just a joy ride.  You actually think they stole the car and then decided that the "car owner (or her SO) is way scarier than the police"?  That doesn't make sense.

 

Or maybe the Cayenne Porsche GPS reported it was stolen and alerted the driver it was transmitting location to authorities?

 

Honestly I don't even know how new cars are stolen?  I thought anything built since early 2000's required a special key with a chip to be started..

 

EDIT: Nevermind, I see the car was left running...

^As I'm sure you've noticed, Erocc is not a fan of Occam's razor.

 

The simplest theory that fits the known facts:  the driver felt safe enough to leave the car running and unlocked in a neighborhood like that.  The thieves quickly dropped off the girl, yet abandoned the car separately (because they did not want their pickup vehicle to be IDed?).  The car was apparently left undamaged, none of the gratuitous vandalism one comes to expect when a car is stolen there.

 

A few years back, I had some items stolen out of my car at a Walton Hills party.  Several cars were hit including one of the Palladino nieces.  Even the cops joked that if it ever came out who did it, the thieves would likely surrender for their own protection.

And yet the driver probably had no idea, not even the slightest clue, who the Palladinos are/were.  And people who jump in cars and take off are not likely to be aware of who the higher ups in the underground crime scene are here in Cleveland.... to the extent there is still even one to be frightened by. 

And yet the driver probably had no idea, not even the slightest clue, who the Palladinos are/were.  And people who jump in cars and take off are not likely to be aware of who the higher ups in the underground crime scene are here in Cleveland.... to the extent there is still even one to be frightened by. 

 

In the late 80s SE suburbs, everyone knew...

Does this make us the first big City police department to have all officers equipped with cameras?

 

1,500 Body Cameras Coming to the Cleveland Police Department

 

Body cameras are officially coming to the Cleveland Police Department. The news comes via the company the department is buying from, TASER International, which announced yesterday the city had purchased 1,500 of their "AXON flex and body cameras" (above) and a five-year subscription to their digital storage and management site, evidence.com.

 

"These orders were received in the first quarter of 2015 and are expected to ship in the first quarter of 2015," the company said.

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/01/21/1500-body-cameras-coming-to-the-cleveland-police-department

Two Cleveland police officers hurt after suspects open fire; two men in custody

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/two_cleveland_police_officers_2.html#incart_river

 

 

Officer injured after shooting on Cleveland's east side

 

Police say officers were pulling over a vehicle on Redell Avenue in connection with a burglary nearby.  Police tell us the suspect in that burglary fired a shot at the homeowner.

 

Officers on Redell say they encountered a man with a gun and a struggle ensued.  During the struggle, a shot was fired by the man so close to one officer's ear that the officer sustained powder burns.

 

EMS transported the officer and his partner to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

 

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/27908396/officer-injured-after-shooting-on-clevelands-east-side

 

 

Obviously a small sample size but 2/3 interviewees certainly seem to harbor a presumption of police malfeasance.  The same 2/3 flat out deny that the the suspect fired a shot using "questionable" logic.

Two Cleveland police officers hurt after suspects open fire; two men in custody

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/two_cleveland_police_officers_2.html#incart_river

 

 

Officer injured after shooting on Cleveland's east side

 

Police say officers were pulling over a vehicle on Redell Avenue in connection with a burglary nearby.  Police tell us the suspect in that burglary fired a shot at the homeowner.

 

Officers on Redell say they encountered a man with a gun and a struggle ensued.  During the struggle, a shot was fired by the man so close to one officer's ear that the officer sustained powder burns.

 

EMS transported the officer and his partner to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

 

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/27908396/officer-injured-after-shooting-on-clevelands-east-side

 

 

Obviously a small sample size but 2/3 interviewees certainly seem to harbor a presumption of police malfeasance.  The same 2/3 flat out deny that the the suspect fired a shot using "questionable" logic.

 

If Channel 19 interviewed 12 people and two express anti-police sentiments, those two will make it to TV. 

The grammar of the witness they interviewed tells me that they are probably an upstanding contributing member of society...

The grammar of the witness they interviewed tells me that they are probably an upstanding contributing member of society...

 

Something tells me the homeowner has a different viewpoint.

60 Minutes is airing a story this week about Cleveland police and their use of force and recent Justice Dept report

Many Errors by Cleveland Police, Then a Fatal

One

By SHAILA DEWAN and RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. JAN. 22, 2015

 

CLEVELAND — It began with a swap: one boy’s cellphone for another’s replica

of a Colt pistol.

 

One of the boys went to play in a nearby park, striking poses with the

lifelike, airsoft­style gun, which fired plastic pellets. He threw a snowball,

settled down at a picnic table and flopped his head onto his arms in a perfect

assertion of preteen ennui, a grainy security video shows.

 

Then, with the gun tucked away, he walked to the edge of the gazebo. He

might have been wandering aimlessly, or he might have been attracted by the

sight of a squad car barreling across the lawn.

 

Seconds later, the boy lay dying from a police officer’s bullet. “Shots fired,

male down,” one of the officers in the car called across his radio. “Black male,

maybe 20, black revolver, black handgun by him. Send E.M.S. this way, and a

roadblock.”

 

...

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/23/us/in-tamir-rice-shooting-in-cleveland-many-errors-by-police-then-a-fatal-one.html?_r=0

I just watched the "60 Minutes" piece on Cleveland tonight.  I thought it was pretty good.  Not exactly hard hitting as I might expect on a typical piece, but they did ask a few tough questions.  I thought the Chief handled himself pretty well in the interview.  Took responsibility for what's happened and said they are taking steps to address, but denied the charges of systemic problems that were leveled in the Justice report.  A few other things:

 

- I thought the two white officers patrolling the 4th district represented pretty well.  A local black man said too many police shoot first & ask questions later.  The officer said he's made hundreds of gun-arrests & never fired his weapon.  I think the officers really came across as concerned about the community and taking a personal interest in the citizens.

 

- The claim of 400,000 "9-1-1" emergency calls a year really put into perspective the constant state of emergency that the city is in.  There's not even 400,000 residents in Cleveland.

 

- I thought the Chief really handled the question about "not enough minority officers" in a good way.  He said diversity is at the forefront of everything they do but if we are at a point of only black officers being able to police black communities, we've already failed.

 

- I thought the Chief really handled the question about "not enough minority officers" in a good way.  He said diversity is at the forefront of everything they do but if we are at a point of only black officers being able to police black communities, we've already failed.

Hmm So white officers policing white communities have already failed also????

 

- I thought the Chief really handled the question about "not enough minority officers" in a good way.  He said diversity is at the forefront of everything they do but if we are at a point of only black officers being able to police black communities, we've already failed.

Hmm So white officers policing white communities have already failed also????

 

I don't know if you watched the segment, but I probably didn't explain that properly.  To expand on your point, the interviewer at one point asked Chief Williams about black parents having "the talk" with their children, to be extra careful around white cops, etc.  The Chief said it's more about being respectful & courteous of all people, be it black or white, cops or teachers, etc.  Another great answer I thought.

14 vehicle break-ins overnight in Hanna Building lot; 2 arrested

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland police arrested two males accused of breaking into 14 vehicles overnight in a Hanna Building parking lot, police spokeswoman Det. Jennifer Ciaccia said.

 

The lot on the southwest corner of East 14th Street and Prospect Avenue is used by tenants of The Residences at Hanna.

 

Ciaccia did not immediately have details about the break-ins. The names and ages of the suspects have not been released.

 

The Residences at Hanna in Playhouse Square did not immediately return a request for comment.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/14_vehicle_break-ins_overnight.html#incart_river

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/shooting_at_bar_on_clevelands.html#incart_m-rpt-1

 

This is UrbanOhio.com, not StalkerOhio.com folks.

Shooting in Shaker Square. Victim has died.

 

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/28000150/this-just-in-woman-shot-in-shaker-square

 

Edited to add: Story out now is that a man shot his girlfriend, and called his sister afterwards and admitted to the crime.

 

Edited to add: News reports now confirm suspect has taken his own life.

 

What a terrible tragedy, the whole thing.

The video is pretty remarkable...

 

Arson investigated as possible cause in home explosion, fire on W. 33rd

Courtney Danser

9:05 AM, Feb 10, 2015

13 mins ago

 

CLEVELAND - Multiple homes burst into flames in the 3800 block of W. 33rd Street Tuesday morning and officials are saying arson is being investigated.

 

Cleveland Fire Department responded to the area just before 9 a.m. Tuesday for the report of an explosion and fire.

 

Dominion gas company also responded for a possible gas leak.

 

The assistant fire chief said a neighbor saw two people running from the scene with canvas bags. People matching that description have not been located.

 

MORE:

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/multiple-homes-impacted-by-fire-on-w-33rd

The flames looked like highly flammable materials were involved:  arson, or perhaps a meth lab.

Cleveland arson investigators find bags, gas can near site of West Side fire http://t.co/uamfK5Oi4L via @clevelanddotcom