On January 30, three Cleveland police officers, who will face administrative charges in connection with the 2014 fatal shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, will face hearings to discuss violations of departmental ethics.
According to the NYTimes, the verdict will determine the punishment, if any, that will be handed down. Apparently, the three officers can be subject to suspension, loss of pay, demotion or firing, reports state.
The charges stem from the 2014 incident, when someone called 911 to report a young boy carrying a weapon that was “probably fake.” However, according to reports, those characteristics did not transfer to the responding officers. Sources say, they were only informed of a male with a weapon.
As a result, officer Timothy Loehmann, who responded with officer Frank Garmback, shot and killed Rice within seconds of arriving at the park.
No criminal charges were brought against the two officers. However, after a yearlong review of evidence and internal affairs investigations by a special committee, the three officers now face administrative charges.
Loehmann faces charges for allegedly omitting information on his job application, regarding his previous work history and his insubordinate behavior. Additionally, his former employer revealed that Loehmann had “an inability to emotionally function,” unable to follow simple instructions.
Garmback, who drove Loehmann to the scene, faces charges for failing to follow procedure. Apparently, when he responded to the call, he did not tell the dispatcher his arrival time.
The third officer, William Cunningham, is facing charges because he was working at a second job at the Cudell Recreation Center, where the shooting took place, without permission, reports state. In addition, he “completed, signed and submitted an untruthful” report as part of the deadly force investigation.
According to the Police Department, departmental charges will be brought against a fourth person as well.
As a result of the fatal shooting, the city reached a settlement with Rice’s family for $6 million, in 2016.
