Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association-President's Corner

President's Archives

Dear Members, November 22, 2008

In February of 2008, this Association was able to successfully shoot down and have declared unconstitutional in Common Pleas Court, an "emergency ordnance" that Council President Sweeny and Councilman Kevin Kelly attempted to quietly push through council early in 2007. This law, if upheld, would have enabled the city to hire a private security company to "Police" CHIA.

In June of 2008, at the bequest of Airport Director Ricky Smith, Council President Sweeny and Councilman Kevin Kelly were back at it again. They again attempted to, and did quietly pass yet another "emergency ordnance" aimed at replacing our Airport Unit. This ordnance was a modified version of the 2007 ordnance, and actually allows the city to attempt to create a makeshift "Airport Police Department" this time actually owned and operated by the City of Cleveland.

We have been monitoring this issue very closely throughout the summer, fall, and now winter of 2008, from many different vantage points. The Civil Service Commission, City Council, and the Law Department to name just a few. With a recent increase in rumor, hearsay and speculation obtained by our Members at the Airport over the past several months, we have also ramped up our efforts to obtain as much information as possible through these relationships with City Hall as well as through a flurry of Public Records Requests. Through these efforts and relationships, we were able to obtain and confirm some information, while we were able to disregard other information regarding the replacement of the Cleveland Police Department at CHIA. Through our professional and diplomatic working relationship with the Law Department, we were able to provide them a brief glimpse of our concerns so they may make a more informed decision regarding this matter.

Pat D'Angelo and I were informed late Monday night (11/17/08) by Assistant Law Director Stew Hastings that the City of Cleveland has abandoned its effort to remove our Officers from CHIA at least throughout the 2009 fiscal year. Our Airport Unit will remain intact for at least another

14 - 18 months while the city reevaluates their options and efforts. During that time, this Association will continue our fight to maintain our jobs at the Airport. We will continue to collect, exchange, and disseminate, FACTUAL information to our Members, and the city, and will react to all information and rumors diplomatically. We WILL take any legal action necessary to block any initiative by the city to replace Cleveland Police Officers at the Airport. We are also initiating State and Federal legislative action to protect our jobs at CHIA, and we will continue to seek and expect the support of not only our Union Members in Official Policy, but also the State and local Safety Force and Labor Unions as well. WE HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT DROP OUR GUARD OR GIVE UP OUR AIRPORT JOBS WITHOUT A FIGHT!

Through the efforts of this Association, numerous attempts by Airport Director Ricky Smith to privatize our jobs at CHIA have been successfully struck down over the last 3 years. We will continue and only intensify our efforts to maintain our jobs at the Airport, and therefore the safety and security of the 1.2 million citizens that pass through CHIA each and every month.

Be Safe, and Please Continue to Take Care of Each Other,

Steve

Dear Members,                         November 5, 2008

    We are yet one more step closer to the end of our residency battle. Congratulations and thank you for supporting Supreme Court Justices Eve Stratton and Maureen O'Connor. They both won in huge style. Richard Cordray won his bid for State Attorney General as well. All three of these candidates are very strong supporters of law Enforcement and our issues.

    That being said, today the Ohio Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments to be heard regarding residency on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 at 0900 hours. Safety Force Union Memberships and our families from across the state will be in Columbus to witness these historic hearings, and the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association will be no exception.

    The CPPA will be chartering a minimum of two busses to make the trek to Columbus. Please be prepared to depart the CPPA Lot at 0600 hours sharp to ride the buses or car pool with us in convoy. The Supreme Court Chambers seats 850 people, and it would be my hope that 200 of them are from Cleveland. I will contact FOP 8, and have contacted Local 93 (firemen) to coordinate the trip that we have been waiting to make for over 20 years.

    Please contact the CPPA at (216) 631-8455 so that we may reserve your seats on the buses or if you intend on driving your car separately. We will hire as many buses as we need to get every Member and their families that want to attend this historic event. We will need a head count by January 6th, 2009 to secure the transportation needed.

    If you intend on driving your personal vehicle and have a GPS, the address to the Ohio Supreme Court is

                                                                Supreme Court of Ohio
                                                                 65 South Front Street,
                                                             Columbus, Ohio 43215-3431

    As always, NO uniforms please, however police related attire for you and your family would be appropriate. Please sign up to travel with, and be part of this historic event. We have not won this long battle yet. We need to fill this Courtroom with the men, women, and children whom this Law was written to protect.

Please Do Not make the mistake of counting on the "other guy" to represent you or your family, You Each Are The Other Guys.

Be Safe, and Please Continue To Look Out For Each Other,

Steve

Dear Members, October 24, 2008

Earlier in the day the jury in this case dismissed the possibility of sentencing the animal convicted of killing Cleveland Police Officer Derek Owens, to the slow death he deserves. They were left to decide which of 3 life sentences this murderer should receive; 1) life without possibility of parole, 2) life with the possibility of parole in 34 years, and 3) life with the possibility of parole in 25 years. At 1830 hrs tonight, 10/24/08, the jury indicated to Judge Michael Russo that they were hopelessly deadlocked in deciding the fate of this murderer by an 11 to 1 count.

Judge Russo dismissed the jury, and will take over the responsibility of sentencing this convicted Police murderer on Friday, October 31st in Cuyahoga County courtroom 17C at 1000 hrs. If you are in the building or are in the area, please try to be there to support the Owens family and friends, Derek's partner, and the Officers that were with Derek the night of his death.

Please Be Safe and Take Care of Each Other,

Stephen S. Loomis, President
Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association

Dear Members,

This is a bitter sweet day for the Owens family as well as his Police family. On Thursday, October 9th, 2008 at approximately 1715 hours, Lamidi Kafaru was found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt on 6 of 7 charges stemming from the murder of our Brother, Partner and Friend, Derek Owens.

The day is sweet in that justice has been served and a message has been sent. Civilized society WILL NOT tolerate the murder of its Civil Servants to go unanswered. This day is also good in that an unimaginable, horrifying chapter of each of our lives has been closed by this verdict, and all of Derek's Families and friends can only now quietly begin their healing processes. This day and date will also be forever embittered in that it will always serve to remind us of the incredible loss we have each been made to endure. Derek will be forever missed, but he and his family WILL NEVER be forgotten.

The charge that the jury found Kafaru Not Guilty on was Aggravated Murder by prior calculation and design. Simply put the prosecution had to prove beyond doubt that Kafaru set out to murder a Police Officer the evening Derek was killed and that act was "premeditated." The only evidence they were able to present to the jury to prove this very difficult claim was the testimony of other young boys and men from the neighborhood. These witnesses testified that "Meady" always said if he was ever cornered by the Police, he was going to shoot it out with them. In the end, that testimony alone was apparently not enough to convince the jury.

Kafaru was found guilty of Aggravated Murder of a Police Officer While On Duty and Aggravated Murder. These convictions on their own could buy Kafaru the death penalty, and at a minimum will yield him a sentence of life in prison WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. Life without parole is key for the healing process of Derek's family and friends. I have been to far to many parole hearings for the murderers of Police Officers and can tell you without doubt that every 5 years those Officers' families are made to relive the nightmare of their loss, as if it were the day it happened.

He was also convicted of the attempted murder and felonious assault of Officer Rob Goines. In all Kafaru was found guilty of 6 of the 7 counts that he was charged with and will face the possibility of receiving the death penalty or life without parole.

The Officers and Detectives from the Homicide Unit and the 4th District, as well as Prosecutors Dave Zimmerman and Pinkey Carr are each to be commended for the rolls they played during this investigation and successful prosecution. The Officers and 4th District Detectives that were with Derek the night he was taken from us, played instrumental and key rolls in helping prolong Derek's life with their quick thinking and response. They also played a key roll in initially securing the crime scene and obtaining evidence that was later deemed "crucial" to the prosecutions case. The entire Homicide Unit is to be commended and thanked as well. If not for their Herculean efforts and investigative experience, this case may have had a much different outcome. The professionals in SIU and BCI also played key rolls in this case. They provided the jurors with DNA evidence linking the witnesses to the crime scene area as well as Kafaru to the murder weapon. This physical evidence, from discovery, to preservation with photographs, to collection, to processing, to testimony, was absolutely key to this case.

We would be remiss if we did not thank the Employee Assistance Unit for the incredible roll they have played in supporting the Owens family throughout this unimaginable tragedy. They have been in constant contact with Derek's family throughout this ordeal, and I strongly suspect, will remain in contact with them (as they have been with the families and friends of all our slain Officers) for as long as the Employee Assistance Unit is in existence.

Finally, It would be inappropriate if we did not recognize and thank Father Cregan, Rabbi Wolfe, Reverend Jesse Harris, Reverend Dean Kovoric, and the entire Cleveland Police Chaplin Corp. for the tireless and unconditional love and support they have given not only the men, women, and families of the Cleveland Police Department, but to all local law enforcement families as well. They truly are doing God's work, and for that we must all thank them.

I am always hesitant to names and units in cases like this for fear of missing somebody or unit and the rolls they have played. If I have overlooked anyone, it is not intentional, please forgive me.

Once again I have been witness to the common thread that binds all law enforcement with the law abiding folks of the Cleveland area and the United States. I have received nearly 400 e-mails in the last 24 hours from well wishers and Police agencies from across the country to express their anguish over the loss of Derek and their delight in the fact that a Cop Killer will be safely behind bars for the rest of his life, never to hurt anyone again. Please remember that for every 1 criminal that is out there ready willing and able to hurt anyone of us or the public, there are thousands of people who support and appreciate the Gods Work that all Law Enforcement Officers do.

Please continue to keep Derek and all our fallen Brothers and Sisters in your thoughts and prayers, and please be safe a watch each others backs out there.

Stephen S. Loomis, President
Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association

CPPA Memo 21-08

Re: Charging Gun Related Crimes

Dear Members, September 30th, 2008

As was reported by the Plain Dealer on Monday, September 29th, 2008, the City of Cleveland has once again taken the position that they intend to ignore a constitutionally, and now Supreme Court upheld State Law, in favor of home rule created city gun ordnances. This proclamation by the Chief’s Office comes just days after these local ordnances were determined to be ILLEGAL by the Ohio Supreme Court. It is extremely irresponsible for the city to place not only our Members but itself in such a position of guaranteed civil liability.

On March 19th, 2007 I informed you that the State Legislature had passed a gun law which effectively deemed most local gun ordnances illegal. The city appealed this decision. Last week the State Supreme Court voted by a 4 to 3 margin to uphold the State Law and reject the cities Home Rule arguments.

It is the position of this Association that city gun ordnances deemed illegal by state CCW legislation which was upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court, should no longer voluntarily be enforced by our Members. We believe, and have been legally advised, that any enforcement of these illegal city ordnances is in direct conflict with State Law and WILL subject our members to civil liability.

If you are uncertain on how to handle an incident that occurs regarding CCW law, ensure that a supervisor responds to your scene and IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THIS ASSOCIATION. Fully document any order given to you by a Supervisor regarding this issue on your duty report and within the narrative of any related reports that stem from the incident.

THE CPPA WILL CONSIDER ANY ORDER TO ENFORCE ILLEGAL CCW RELATED CITY ORDNANCES AN “UNLAWFUL ORDER” AND WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE AND DECISIVE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR MEMBERS INTERESTS IN ANY VENUE NESSESARY.

Please be safe, and take care of each other out there,

Stephen S. Loomis, President
Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association

September 30, 2008

Cimperman calls spike in burglaries serious; police respond to crimes

Posted by dsims September 29, 2008 21:49PM

A spike in burglaries this summer at offices and warehouses downtown and in the MidTown Corridor is causing worries for business owners and a city councilman.

Brazen bandits are targeting businesses between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., authorities said.

They stand on ladders and stacks of wooden pallets at commercial buildings to smash second-story windows and kick in glass-block windows.

The thieves steal money and goods such as laptop computers.

Councilman Joe Cimperman fears an increase in crime will cause the businesses to leave the city. He added that business owners have not reached that point yet and that police are aggressively working to halt the thefts.

"It's more than an isolated incident," the councilman said. "It's serious."

Overall, burglaries and cases of breaking and entering in those areas are up about 6 percent compared with last year, said Lt. Thomas Stacho, a police spokesman.

The Police Department has shifted officers on a downtown-based unit to overnight hours and is using undercover detectives to halt the thefts, Stacho said.

This month, police temporarily elevated business alarms to a "priority one" status in MidTown to help stop the break-ins, Stacho said. The call is the highest level sent to officers on the street, typically used for shootings, violence and similar crimes.

Police arrested a suspect last week. Investigators are waiting for results from a DNA test to see if he is responsible for some of the crimes, Stacho said. He added that officers are searching for another suspect whose DNA matched evidence left at a scene.

Police believe the two men are probably responsible for many of the break-ins but said others might be involved, too.

Officials from MidTown Cleveland Inc. and St. Clair Superior Development Corp., whose job is to attract businesses to the neighborhoods on the East Side, have teamed with business owners and police to try to prevent additional crimes.

James Haviland, executive director at MidTown Cleveland, said the crime surge began early in the summer. At least 15 businesses have been hit, and it appears to be the same people because the break-ins are similar, he said.

"We're not used to this," he said. "We can't tolerate it. It interrupts business."

Haviland said the group has hired a security firm for additional patrols on weekends. The group is asking business owners to hide valuables so intruders can't see them through windows.

The city eliminated one of its six police districts and neighborhood patrol operations out of the former 3rd District headquarters on Payne Avenue in May. The building now houses specialized units. Haviland said it is too early to tell if the crime increase is related to the redeployment. Police union officials say it is.

Capt. Walter May, head of the local Fraternal Order of Police, and Steve Loomis, head of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association, both said they predicted the spike months ago because police presence diminished with fewer cruisers coming and going from the Payne Avenue building late at night.

"The criminals know what we're doing," May said. "The city opened that area up to crime."

Cimperman scoffed. The surge has nothing to do with the police redeployment and is "the product of bad knuckleheads."

Loomis said that decision to elevate the status of business alarms jeopardizes the safety of residents and officers by taking them away from other serious crimes. Priority one calls, he said, are for people whose lives are in danger, not property crimes.

"That is a huge problem," Loomis said.

Stacho said the department would not put officers and residents in danger.

"It's a strategy," he said. "It's not at the expense of any person or neighborhood."

Councilman Cimperman can't have it both ways. He reportedly scoffs at the reality of this situation because he is responsible for it. He voted in support of closing of the 3rd District yet he is claiming this spike in downtown burglaries (that coincidentally began in early summer after the 3rd District closed in May 08) is serious. He and downtown business leaders were sold a bill of goods in that their would be no impact on the business and downtown residential communities because the Chief and Safety Director were going to give them their own private 20 Officer Police department. Instead, downtown business leaders are forced to "hide valuables" and "hire additional security patrols" at what I am sure is a significant expense.

Lieutenant Stacho and the Chief's Office can't have it both ways either. The priority system has been put in place across the country to protect the LIVES of the citizens we are sworn to serve. Priority 1 assignments and most priority 2 assignments are assigned in response to crimes against PEOPLE and POTENTIONALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS, period! A man who was just robbed at gunpoint, a missing toddler or alzheimer's patient, a juvenile victim of rape, gunshot victims, domestic violence victims, an elderly women hiding in her closet because she heard glass breaking in her house, a robbery with a gun in progress etc... These are all true priority 1 and 2 crimes that we must aggressively act upon.

The fact that the City of Cleveland considers a downtown business that has been broken into as important a crime as ANY of the true priority crimes I have listed above, is disappointing at best and a gross dereliction of duty at worst. For the Chief's office to assert that this "strategy" is not at the expense of any person or neighborhood and that this "strategy" would not put any Officers or PEOPLE in danger is completely disingenuous and void of any semblance of common sense. When Police officers are rushed to a business alarm as a priority one assignment, they are NO LONGER available to help ANY of the PEOPLE I have mentioned above. This concept is not brain surgery.

This is a clear case of politics once again negatively influencing the decisions of our leaders. The message that is being sent by the politicians is that downtown businesses are somehow more important than neighborhood businesses or homes and thus, should be given a higher priority and better Police response and attention. This is the only conclusion one could come to given the facts at hand. A neighborhood business or residential alarm is currently and rightfully a code 3 or 4 low priority crime that we will respond to when we are done saving lives and helping PEOPLE.

The reality is that the Police manpower shortage in Cleveland continues to be epic along with the misinformation and smoke and mirrors leadership that has brought us to this point in our history. The conditions in Cleveland will only continue to worsen until this City finds a way to restore this Police Department to its pre lay off strength.

Be Safe, and Please Continue to Support the Men and Women of the Cleveland Police Department, as We Will Continue to Our Best to Support You.

Stephen S. Loomis, President
Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association

September 30, 2008
Dear Members, Officers, Citizens, and Media,

It is with mixed emotions that I inform you that the murderer of Cleveland Police Officer Fred Vacha has been denied parole for a third consecutive time. While we were successful in encouraging the State Parole Authority, through testimony and the presentation of a petition signed by nearly 12,000 angry citizens, to deny parole status to this animal, we were unsuccessful in our bid to lengthen this denial period to10 years, verses the 5 years the Parole Board has granted.

This murderer's next opportunity for parole will be in the year 2013. Rest assured in 2013 this Association will once again play an active role in seeking your support to ensure this animal remains behind bars where he absolutely belongs.

The Vacha family has asked that I extend their gratitude and extreme appreciation for all of the support they have received during this very difficult process. Their gratitude is extended not only to this Association but also to the thousands of Police Officers and citizens that signed the petition and the media outlets that assisted in helping keep a true public threat behind bars.

Be Safe in Your Endeavors, and Please Continue to Look Out For Each Other,
Stephen S. Loomis, President
Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association

Ohio Parole Board April 27th, 2008
1050 Fernway Drive North
Columbus, Ohio 43229

Re: Parole Hearing Inmate Floyd Graham Inmate # A137967
c/w the murder of Cleveland Police Officer Fred Vacha

Dear Parole Board,

I am writing to you on behalf of the nearly 1,400 City of Cleveland Police Officers, and Dispatchers whom have elected me, as well as their families. We are each residents of the city of Cleveland and the State of Ohio.

While I was not on the job the night of Officer Vacha’s tragic death, I have been the President of this Association when we experienced the murder of two (2) Cleveland Police Officers in as many years. I can tell you without hesitation and with incredible heartache, the devastation these murders have bestowed on both of these young families. What seems to give both of these young mothers and widows hope and strength is the power that comes from knowing that neither of these murders will ever see the light of day again because of modern laws and life sentences without the possibility of parole.

These young widows do not take solace in the life sentences of their husbands murderers for vengeful reasons. They take solace in knowing that these 2 murderers will never again be allowed by civilized society to be free to take another life. They take solace in the fact that these murderers will not be able to subject yet another young family to the excruciating pain and loss they continue to suffer.

Floyd Graham (inmate A137967) murdered Officer Vacha in cold blood and attempted to kill his partner, Officer John Saccany in similar fashion. He was apprehended a short time later by a group of professional Police Officers that believe heavily in the judicial system for which they are a part of. Inmate A137967, who by any and all standards was a career criminal at the time he murdered Officer Vacha, had the nerve to claim self defense during his trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to two (2) consecutive life sentences plus. The judge also ordered that inmate A137967 spend every June 20th of the rest of his life in solitary confinement to reflect upon his crimes. To date he has not spent one day there as a warden felt it to be “inhumane punishment.”.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Parole Board, Inmate A137967 murdered a husband, father, son and Cleveland Police Officer. He did so knowingly, intentionally, and according to all documentation, absent any sign of remorse. I have had the misfortune to see the pain and suffering the Vacha family has been made to endure through the eyes of the young families of our recently murdered Cleveland Officers. There is no way to ease their suffering or loss. The only peace of mind they have is knowing that their husband’s, father’s, son’s murder is safely behind bars never to hurt another soul again.

Not only do we respectfully request this Parole Board to summarily reject any attempt by inmate A137967 to obtain parole/ furlough, we would also request this Board to delay the possibility of parole / furlough to this inmate for the remainder of his natural born life. It is extremely unfair and “inhumane” to the family of Patrolman Vacha to subject them to this nightmare every 5 years. Their pain will always be there, their peace will only remain as long as inmate A137967 remains safely locked away.

Thank you in advance for your careful consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Stephen S. Loomis, President
Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association

February 25, 2008

We have developed a plan to submit to our elected leaders concerning redeployment of “New Hire” personnel as a result of the .25% income tax increase we have proposed. Let me begin by saying that we strongly believe that the leadership in Cleveland could find a way to finance the additional 300 Police Officers we need if they had the inclination. The reality is that coming up with an additional 22.5 million dollars from within a nearly 700 million dollar budget is achievable according to our CPA. It is a matter of priorities, not money. We are at a crossroads in Cleveland, and tough decisions have to be made by our elected leaders for the right reasons and the overall good of our once great city. We can no longer afford decisions being made based on political self preservation, as we have each grown far to accustomed to seeing from our leaders.

Background;

Our City leaders routinely attempt to excuse their failure to provide for the safety and well being of their citizens on the fact that Cleveland is the 4th poorest city in the country, and therefore they simply cannot afford to. What they do not want the average Clevelander to understand, is the fact that those figures are based on the per capita income of the residents of Cleveland. ($24,000 per year) Our general fund budget, which funds the Police Department, is based on the income of not only our residents working in Cleveland, but also the 400,000 plus workforce that commutes to Cleveland every day to earn a living. The reality is that the average income of all those who work in Cleveland is nearly $39,000 per year, which places Cleveland firmly at 17th in the Nation. Simply put, the problems in Cleveland are being caused by a lack of priorities, not finances.

A Cleveland Police Officers’ wage package is approximately $75,000 per year including benefits. Total cost per year for 300 additional Officers is $23.1 million. Our proposed income tax increase will raise $31.2 million per year. The .25% income tax increase we propose will cost the average Cleveland resident $1.15 per week ($60 per year) and the average Cleveland worker $1.87 per week ($97.24 per year.) After the Police Officers have been hired, there would be roughly an $8.1 million excess per year. We propose this money to be earmarked as follows;

- $1.25 million per year to the Aviation Unit to enable 24 hour per day, 7 day per week operation of our helicopters. The helicopters save Police, citizen and suspect lives. They also protect the city and our Officers from potential civil liability sometimes associated with Police work.

- $750,000 per year to re-establish and operate a viable well equipped Ports and Harbor / Rescue Diver Unit. Currently we have 23 miles of un-patrolled coastline bordering a foreign country. We have over 6 miles of un-patrolled river, an international port, an un-protected water source, power stations, Browns Stadium, Tower City, airport, and last but not least, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame which literally hangs out over the water. Incidentally, the Rock Hall is thought to be Cleveland’s most vulnerable and high value terrorist target due to the symbolism it represents. The combination of a 24/7 Aviation Unit and a Harbor Unit patrolling our waterways in tandem would go a long way in protecting our city.

- $2.1 million per year to establish, maintain, and operate “Chicago Style” surveillance camera pods and Zone Car cameras to assist, not replace law enforcement Officers.

- $750,000 per year to finance new crime stoppers programs to assist in the apprehension, prosecution, and conviction of criminals. This would undoubtedly increase our currently declining solvability rates.

- $750,000 per year for Police Youth Cadet and Auxiliary Police programs to assist in local Police recruitment and Community Policing efforts.

- $2.5 million per year to establish and assist community / neighborhood / recreation center programs to seek out, train, and properly equip community watch groups, recreation center personnel, to assist Law Enforcement Officers in protecting our city, and providing our children with positive Police interaction and alternatives to crime.

Proposed Assignment of 300 Additional Officers;

We believe that re-establishing positive communication and interaction with our grammar school aged children is of vital importance.

-The first 100 of these Officers should be immediately assigned to “Community Policing type Units.” Mini Stations should be re-established and should house Community Police Officers, Dare Unit / School Officers, Bike Unit Officers and the Mounted Unit. These very local mini stations will reconnect the Police Department with the children and the community in a positive manner. This would re-establish the positive interaction between the Police and the community in a very real way.

- The next 100 new Officers should be used to re-establish the District Strike Force Units, Aviation Unit, Gang Unit, Fugitive Unit, Ports and Harbor Unit, and supplement the Homicide Unit, the Narcotics Unit, S.W.A.T. Unit and District Detective Bureaus.

- The last 100 new Officers would be used to supplement and properly equip Basic Patrol.

Along with these recommendations, we would also recommend the reassignment of 80 of 120 Community Service Officers to Basic Patrol. This would leave each District a 7 Officer Community Service Unit to work directly for the District Commander in whatever capacity necessary. Providing an additional 180 Police Officers to Basic Patrol will allow for faster response times, greater Police presence, greater Officer (therefore public) safety and will also be conducive to community policing efforts. The theory being that if there are nearly 2 Police units assigned to each “zone” in the city, those Officers will be much more likely to be able to remain in their assigned zones and therefore will be able to establish relationships with residents, business people and local criminals alike.

Conclusion;

While I realize and understand that “another damn tax increase” is going to make people cringe, the thought of sitting back and watching our city implode with crime, without attempting to realistically correct the problems we face, cannot be an option. Our good, God fearing, contributing citizens are running for their lives, and our businesses are leaving the city and not looking back. Sitting back and watching these trends continue, should no longer be an option for any of us. Until we have the Officers we need to once again become a proactive, aggressive, community style Police Department, these unfortunate trends will not reverse, despite the Mayor and his appointed command staff rolling out initiative after meaningless initiative. For example, establishing a 6 Officer “Gang Impact Squad” makes for a great sound bite during troubled political times, but will accomplish little more than leaving a void in the Districts and Units that those Officers originally came from. Unfortunately our elected and appointed leaders have done scant more than place political Band-Aids on the crime issues in Cleveland that require major surgery. If real efforts are not made by people willing to step up and be real leaders, Cleveland is going to continue to hemorrhage residents and businesses to other states, counties, and suburbs, and we will be left behind with Detroit, except without the gambling.

Our leaders could pave Euclid Avenue with gold bricks and build a Medical Mart / Convention Center out of platinum, if people do not feel safe while living, working, or playing in Cleveland, they will not come here. An investment of less than $2.00 per week from most of the folks working in Cleveland will rebuild our decimated, understaffed Police Department, assist us in protecting and reaching our children, and go a long way to retain and attract residents and businesses back to our City. This City has great potential, we must take the necessary steps to realize and nurture that potential, not mock it by ignoring the issues at hand and how to realistically correct them.

Sincerely,

Stephen S. Loomis, President
Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association