Success: Officer Who Fatally Shot 12-Year-Old Fired

Target: Calvin Williams, Chief of Cleveland Division of Police

Goal: Support the firing of the officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice.

The officer who fatally shot a 12-year-old African-American boy while he was playing in the park with a pellet gun has been fired, and  the officer who was driving the patrol car has been suspended and will be required to attend tactical training. The shooting of Tamir Rice sparked public outrage — including petitions like this one at ForceChange — as one of far too many police killings of unarmed black men, women, and children.

Although the rookie officer who shot Tamir, Officer Loehmann, has been fired, it was for the offense of lying on his application for the Cleveland Division of Police, and not for killing Tamir. As Tamir’s mother said in a statement, “he should have been fired for shooting my son in less than one second.” She is, however, “relieved Loehmann has been fired because he should never have been a police officer in the first place.”

Sign below to support the firing and suspension of these officers, and to encourage the police department to publicly condemn their irresponsible actions that resulted in the death of an innocent boy.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Police Chief Williams,

Officer Timothy Loehmann has proven himself to be unfit to serve as a police officer. Removing him from the force was a responsible action that was clearly in the best interest of the community.

Officer Loehmann’s role in the fatal shooting of Tamir Rice must not go unacknowledged. This offense should have resulted in his firing straight away. Tamir was an innocent child, and the deaths of black people at the hands of police is a major problem. I would like to sincerely thank you for protecting the community and firing Officer Loehmann, and urge you to publicly condemn his killing of Tamir Rice.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Fibonacci Blue