FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2024
Over the weekend, Cleveland Police shot and injured a 14-year-old boy who officers believed was tied to a string of car break-ins.
The Cleveland Community Police Commission acknowledges that this was a dangerous situation for the officers, with the teen driving a car toward them. However, we have a duty to ensure that the CDP does not violate its policies. The Use of Force General Police order, Section VIII A, states that officers shall not discharge a firearm “from or at a moving vehicle, unless the use of deadly force is justified by something other than the threat of the moving vehicle.”
It would be remiss not to acknowledge that this investigation is in its early stages and that new evidence could lead CDP to conclude that this use of force incident was justified and followed department guidelines. As long as the investigation remains thorough, fair, and transparent throughout its entirety, we will stand by the results.
However, the CPC does have concerns that the investigative process may not be swift or timely.
Earlier this year, Cleveland officers discharged their weapons at 26-year-old Antwoina Carter’s car. In the nine months since CDP released the body camera footage from that early morning, there have been no updates regarding the investigation into whether or not the officers’ use of force was justified.
It is our duty to ensure that all officers adhere to department policy, which is designed to keep both the community and police officers safe.
When officers follow the rules and regulations they are required to operate under, it means the CDP is fulfilling its obligations to remain compliant with the consent decree. When officers violate those policies and no action is taken to rectify the situation, it indicates a failure to uphold a legally binding agreement with the Department of Justice.