Police union files appeal to get ex-cop who killed Tamir Rice his job back
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The Cleveland police union is still fighting to get the ex-cop who killed Tamir Rice his job back and filed an appeal after he was fired because he lied on his paperwork.
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Timothy Loehmann, the officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, was fired from the force not because he killed the unarmed boy but because he lied on his hiring paperwork.
The Cuyahoga County Court upheld the decision to fire Loehmann. But on Friday, Police union president Jeff Follmer filed an appeal and told Fox8 of their intent to keep fighting: “Officer Loehmann has been treated unfairly by the city and the arbitration. We are hoping whatever county judge receives this appeal will go on the merits of fact and not political pressure.”
Subodh Chandra, the Rice family’s attorney, issued this statement to FOX 8.
“It is most unfortunate that the CPPA continues to insist it’s okay for a law-enforcement officer to lie on his employment application —that is, continues to embrace lawlessness in law enforcement. Until CPPA comprehends its officers are not above the law, none of us are safe. And Tamir? With a police union as lawless as that, the child never stood a chance.”
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Rice was killed in November of 2014 when Loehmann and Officer Frank Garmback received a call about a someone with a gun in a park. The officers approached Rice in their vehicle and shot him almost instantly, only to discover he had a toy gun.
A grand jury later decided not to indict the officers.
Loehmann was let go for having lied on his job application, failing to disclose issues with his competence from a previous job in Independence, Ohio.
The Rice family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Cleveland City Hall for $6 million.
