EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — East Cleveland leaders and residents shared their safety concerns over police training and their police department's chase policy, after an Aug. 27 chase ended with an officer involved shooting.
East Cleveland police reported the pursuit ended on East 105th and South Boulevard.
Police said all occupants in the vehicle ran from the scene. Officers pursued on foot when the driver jumped out of the vehicle with a firearm in his hand.
Police reported the male raised the weapon sideways while running from officers and officers shot the male.
East Cleveland Councilman Nathaniel Martin told News 5 he working on what he called warrantless pursuit legislation, which would call for restricting police chases, unless it was in connection with an arrest warrant or during the act of a felony or violent crime.
Martin said he will try to negotiate a regional chase policy that would also include police departments from Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Euclid and Bratenahl.
“The issue is about integrity, and the issue is about training,” Martin said.
“Make sure that they go out there to do their job responsibility and righteously, and fairly.”
“We must stop where they are running through these municipalities, chasing people for frivolous reasons and somebody gets hurt.”
“How can we connect with not just East Cleveland, but Euclid, Cleveland Heights and Cleveland, how can we make that a lot safer.”
“But just flying down Euclid Avenue doing 65 or 70 is just foolishness.”
East Cleveland Police Chief Scott Gardner released following statement:
"I am taking steps to bring the East Cleveland Police Department into transparency with the public and council. The chair of the safety committee, Nathaniel Martin and I have already been meeting. Relative to pursuits, our current policy is recognized by the International Chiefs of Police Association as the best practice. I will reiterate my concern voiced to council: not allowing other agencies to pursue into our city will be a slippery slope. The ability to apprehend those that break the law is paramount to a civil society. As police officers, we must weigh the danger to the public against the risk of letting a criminal go unapprehended."
East Cleveland Councilwoman Juanita Gowdy told News 5 more police training is need to help officers better deal with the public, and if that doesn't happen, she's hoping the Department of Justice will step in and give her police department the same consent decree scrutiny currently being faced by the Cleveland police department.
“It’s about the training and the safety of our community, that’s the first thing I’m concerned about, and they need to be held accountable,” Gowdy said.
East Cleveland police told News 5 the male was transported to University Hospitals, his condition is unknown at this time.
The Cleveland Police Homicide Unit is handling the investigation to determine if the officer acted properly in this case.
