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Remember the version of the #Cleveland #Police Department that showed up at the #Republican National Convention in the summer of 2016? That was then, this is now. Appalling images from the #GeorgeFloyd protest show officers are far from reformed. https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2020/07/appalling-images-from-george-floyd-protest-show-cleveland-police-are-far-from-reformed.html">https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2...
#Reporter @LeilaAtassi writes: "They were the picture of #constitutional #policing, representing #Cleveland when all the world was watching. Working alongside law enforcement officers from across the country, Cleveland #police managed even the most volatile demonstrations..."
"... on downtown streets with #professionalism, #civility & respect for the rights of citizens. Observers worried that the embattled #police department – then operating under its first year of a federal consent decree governing use of force – would overly restrict protests..."
"... or escalate intense moments into #violence. But #Cleveland #police disproved the naysayers. They made us proud. They deserved the praise they received. That was then," writes @clevelanddotcom #reporter Leila Atassi.
Reporter @cory_shaffer has tirelessly reviewed more hours of #surveillance video of the May 30th George Floyd protest than I can count. He & @LeilaAtassi both report that they saw none of the de-escalation methods used by #Cleveland #police during the #RNC protests in 2016.
"Instead, we see an army, suited in riot gear, escalating conflict... at war with civilians -- calling into question whether 5 years of reform have made any difference at all for a police department that had become notorious for using excessive force on citizens." -- Leila Atassi
@LeilaAtassi @cory_shaffer @eheisig @clevelanddotcom: Can somebody please tell me what was supposed to happen? According to the video I& #39;ve seen, police officers didn& #39;t come out in riot control gear until AFTER the bicycle patrol officers had rocks & water bottles thrown at them.
Please tell me if I am mistaken. I read Cleveland police& #39;s crowd management policy the day before the protest. The main problem I saw was that nobody could heard initial dispersal orders. It is shocking & inexcusable that the city didn& #39;t have a better public address system.
I got there after the protest devolved into a riot & I NEVER heard a single dispersal order. You have done a great job covering the allegations of excessive use of force. Police officers should absolutely be held accountable administratively & criminally if it& #39;s warranted!
Thousands of peaceful protesters left after police started firing tear gas, pepper-pellets & rubber bullets on the crowd. Therefore, I cannot understand how people can say that the police officers actions provoked the rioting & looting that ensued.
