Cleveland Police Union President Steve Loomis reports Cleveland detectives no longer have access to juvenile booking photos and fingerprints due to a computer compatibility issue between the city and Cuyahoga County.
Loomis told newsnet5.com exclusively the issue started when the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center launched it's juvenile justice reform initiative in Dec. 2015.
Loomis said detectives don't have access to critical juvenile booking photos, which are needed to conduct suspect line-ups for victims.
"Our detectives need to have access to these criminals, and they are criminals," said Loomis. "There are 15 year olds that are killing people, that are robbing stores at gunpoint."
"It's not conducive to law enforcement, it's not conducive to public safety. There is a great many crimes that are going unsolved."
Loomis said detectives are simply unable to log into the county system.
Cuyahoga County Juvenile Division Chief and First Assistant Prosecutor Duane Deskins acknowledged the computer compatibility issue, and explained his team is working diligently to solve problem.
Deskins defended reform at the Juvenile Justice Center, and told newsnet5.com the new streamlined juvenile booking procedure saves Cleveland officers several hours every week, because they spend less time transporting juvenile suspects.
Deskins explained the new system also keeps juveniles from being exposed to violent adult criminals.
"I wish we could have solved the computer issues yesterday," said Deskins.
Deskins could not provide a timetable as to when the computer compatibility issue would be solved.
Meanwhile Loomis said his detectives have been dealing with this issue for four months, and too many juvenile cases are not being addressed.
"One juvenile admitted to detectives that he ran from police 30 times and yet we can't get a picture of this kid to do a line-up," said Loomis.
