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December 4, 2014 1:39 pm - NewsBehavingBadly.com

[su_right_ad]Attorney General Eric Holder held a news conference in Cleveland to address the issue of excessive force by Cleveland police.

Cleveland police officers use guns, Tasers, pepper spray and their fists either unnecessarily or in retaliation, while using excessive force on those “who are mentally ill or in crisis,” the Justice Department announced Thursday.

As a result of this “pattern … of unreasonable and unnecessary use of force,” the city and Justice Department have signed an agreement “to develop a court-enforceable consent decree that will include a requirement for an independent monitor who will oversee and ensure necessary reforms.”

The results of the federal review come as the Cleveland Division of Police is under fire for the November fatal shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice [pictured]…

The Justice Department said it launched its probe in March 2013 after “a number of high profile use of force incidents and requests from the community and local government to investigate the division.” Mayor Frank Jackson requested the investigation after a controversial police chase and shooting that killed two people in December 2012.

Not only did the investigation reveal a practice of unreasonable use of force but “in some cases unnecessary force in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.”

That includes unnecessary shootings and “head strikes with impact weapons,” the report says. It also includes “excessive force against persons who are mentally ill or in crisis, including in cases where the officers were called exclusively for a welfare check.”[su_csky_ad]

D.B. Hirsch
D.B. Hirsch is a political activist, news junkie, and retired ad copy writer and spin doctor. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

15 responses to Justice Department: Cleveland Police Guilty Of Using Excessive Force

  1. tiredoftea December 4th, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    Newsflash from the Department of The Obvious.

    • Carla Akins December 4th, 2014 at 2:26 pm

      It’s still better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

      • tiredoftea December 4th, 2014 at 2:41 pm

        “..the city and Justice Department have signed an agreement “to develop a court-enforceable consent decree that will include a requirement for an independent monitor who will oversee and ensure necessary reforms.” You mean this stick? That’s a response that’s more like a limp noodle.

        • Carla Akins December 4th, 2014 at 4:22 pm

          Dammit, you just have to rain on my parade don’t you.

          • tiredoftea December 4th, 2014 at 4:42 pm

            So, sorry! Look on the bright side, the Cardinals might make the post season next year!

          • Carla Akins December 4th, 2014 at 5:08 pm

            National League douchebags. I’ll keep my always underrated, class-act KC Royals. American League players with actual non-steroidal athletic talent, playing for the love of the game and embracing the designated hitter.

          • tiredoftea December 4th, 2014 at 8:14 pm

            Lightning hardly ever strikes the same team again! Better stock up on those Royals miracle post season DVD’s that are no doubt being sold around town!

          • Carla Akins December 5th, 2014 at 5:03 am

            Win or lose – they are a class act and a team to be proud of unlike so many others.

  2. mea_mark December 4th, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    Ok, that’s one police department. When are we going to get around to fixing all the other police departments in this nation?

    • RK Johnston December 4th, 2014 at 4:16 pm

      Give them time–too many broken forces to repair quickly.
      –RKJ

  3. R.J. Carter December 4th, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    The DOJ will have a case in Cleveland, and probably New York. I wouldn’t hold my breath for action in Ferguson.

    • Kick Frenzy December 4th, 2014 at 3:56 pm

      They announced they were going to investigate Ferguson back in the first days of September.

      • R.J. Carter December 4th, 2014 at 4:23 pm

        Investigation doesn’t equate to filing charges.

        • Kick Frenzy December 5th, 2014 at 12:05 am

          It doesn’t guarantee one way or the other on charges, but at least it’s better than turning a blind eye.
          For instance, in Cleveland, they found a ton of crap and now the police force there is going to be under constant watch… I’m not sure if there was anything more than that though.

          So, we’ll see… maybe Ferguson will get away squeaky clean, maybe something will be done to try to correct any issues there.
          (I’m guessing they could find the possible KKK ties or just general asshattery and do something similar to Cleveland… but who knows?)

  4. neworleans878 December 4th, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    Edit….Oops…comment was meant for Rudy thread. Thank God for the edit function…