Key takeaways on Cleveland cops fired over 137-shot barrage

The “consent decree” was announced two days after protesters filled Cleveland’s streets following the acquittal of a white police officer charged in the November 2012 incident that left Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams dead after a auto chase.

United States officials have fired six police officers who were involved in a 137-shot barrage that killed two unarmed African Americans in 2012.

Last year, one of the officers, Michael Brelo, was acquitted on voluntary manslaughter charges in connection with the case.

City officials said they hoped the disciplinary actions would bring “closure” to a city struggling to rebuild community trust following a series of high-profile police shootings.

One more officer who had faced administrative discipline has retired.

Loomis argued that the suspects, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, drove their auto into a crowd of police, leading them to believe they were under fire.

Steve Loomis, President of the Cleveland Police Patrolmens Association, says the police response was justified and calls the city’s presentation “nonsense”.

They also appeared to be homeless with a history of mental disorders and were allegedly looking to buy drugs at the time the incident ensued.

The U.S. Justice Department investigation led to an agreement with the city to overhaul Cleveland police practices to minimize racial bias and excessive force that many Cleveland residents alleged had become standard operating procedure in the city. A grand jury said last month that it would not charge the officer involved, determining that the shooting was justified.

Standing on the hood of the vehicle, Brelo shot down through the windshield, yet he was acquitted of manslaughter charges in May 2015.

Federal investigators said they found that officers unnecessarily fired guns at unarmed or fleeing suspects who posed no threat, pointed guns at people inappropriately and used Tasers and physical force on people who were already handcuffed or subdued.

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