WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS W.Va. (WVDN) – It has been reported that former Cleveland, Ohio police officer, Timothy Loehmann, who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014 in Ohio, has been hired at The White Sulphur Springs Police Department.
The officer was eventually fired from the Cleveland department. He then went on to procure two other positions as a police officer and ended up resigning from both after public outcry.
One of the attorneys who represented Rice’s family, Subodh Chandra, released a statement on the situation. The beginning of the statement says, “White Sulphur Springs’s police chief and its public officials evidently don’t care that (1) the City of Independence, Ohio considered Timothy Loehmann mentally unfit for duty, (2) Cleveland fired him because he lied on his application (a firing affirmed on appeals), (3) he rushed upon and slew a child, and (4) in the ensuing investigation he lied about calling out warnings to Tamir when his fellow officer said the windows were up that fateful winter’s day.”
It has also been reported in other news outlets that Loehmann was trained or completed training with The West Virginia State Police. However, Captain R.A. Maddy with the West Virginia state police said, “The West Virginia State Police has not provided any training to Officer Loehmann. The West Virginia State Police has not been involved with Officer Loehmann. Information reported previously was inaccurate.”
Social media is rampant with comments of disbelief and severe concern from citizens.
At the time of writing, the White Sulphur Springs Police Department Facebook page is no longer appearing in searches on the social media platform. It is unclear if the page has been removed or if there is another cause.
White Sulphur Springs City officials were not available for comment at the time of publishing.
The next WSS City Council meeting is July 8 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, located at 589 Main St. White Sulphur Springs.
