Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty released a letter Tuesday regarding how his office handles police use of deadly force cases, urging the public to be patient.
To read the full letter, click here.
McGinty's letter started with an explanation of how officer-involved shootings where a civilian was killed were handled before he became the prosecutor. According to McGinty, the prosecutor personally reviewed the investigation and made the decision on whether or not to charge. He said it allowed 'suspicions to develop,' and it prompted him to present each case to a Grand Jury after he became the county prosecutor.
McGinty stated he 'fully understand[s] the frustration felt by the family and friends of a person killed by police.' However, it takes time to solve these cases, especially those with high quality video evidence.
To show transparency, McGinty said his office makes completed law enforcement investigative reports on these types of cases public.
"Every Grand Jury investigation is a search for the truth. And knowing the truth is what our community expects and deserves – especially in use of deadly force cases," McGinty said in the letter.
McGinty said since becoming Cuyahoga's prosecuting attorney, his office has been asked to review 20 police use of deadly force cases. He also said his office has prosecuted dozens of officers for crimes with claims of bias in favor of police not coming up as an issue.
"A request now to have this office removed from these cases is without basis in fact and belies the record," he said.
