Cincinnati Residents Call for New Policies

Angry residents packed a City Council meeting Tuesday to speak out against the police shooting of an unarmed black man and to call for changes in police hiring and disciplinary practices.

City leaders hope changes to the department will quell the anger that sparked riots last week after the death of 19-year-old Timothy Thomas, who was killed by a white officer. About 200 people filled council chambers during the meeting to consider a change to the way the city hires its police chief.

Norma Payne said that when she looks at city officials she sees “the same old slave masters,” and “the same Gestapo of Hitler’s regime.”

“When I look at you, I think you may be the KKK in disguise,” the black woman said. Six of Cincinnati’s nine City Council members are white; the city of 331,000 people is 43% black.

Currently the chief’s job goes to one of the city’s assistant chiefs, but many black leaders say a national search could yield a chief who is more receptive to change and not beholden to officers.

Brian Loewe, a student at Xavier University, also called for new leadership.

“There is nothing more profane than having black children killed by police,” Loewe said.

After hearing citizens’ comments for five hours, council referred the charter changes to a committee for more study. Any changes in the charter would have to be placed on the ballot and approved by voters.

Three days of arson, looting and attacks on motorists followed the April 7 shooting death of Thomas, who was running from officers trying to arrest him on misdemeanor and traffic warrants.

Police arrested more than 800 people during demonstrations and a citywide curfew--lifted Monday--was put in place for the first time since the race riots of 1968.

The FBI, police and the county prosecutor are investigating the shooting. Fifteen blacks have died in confrontations with police since 1995, four of them since November.

Officer Stephen Roach, who shot Thomas, is on paid administrative leave. The president of the police union has said Roach believed Thomas had a gun and that his life was in danger.

A Hamilton County grand jury was expected to begin hearing evidence soon about the shooting. Prosecutor Michael Allen said he is aware that black residents are watching to see whether Roach is indicted, but that his office would handle the case like any other.

“If there’s an indictment, it will be because of the facts of the case, and not because of pressure from the community,” Allen said. “We’re going to present it straight up and let the members of the grand jury make the decision.”

Another grand jury has begun hearing evidence against people suspected of crimes during last week’s rioting, Allen said. Prosecutors and police have been reviewing videotapes of the unrest to try to identify rioters.

Meanwhile, local police and FBI investigators are also still trying to determine why police and a state trooper fired pellet beanbags at people who witnesses described as peaceful protesters. Two people were injured in Saturday’s shooting, which followed Thomas’ funeral.