East Cleveland welcomes new police chief as department faces pressure

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — Applause crammed the room Friday as East Cleveland welcomed a brand new chief.

“They’re already speaking about me. They don’t even know me. They don’t know what I’m about,” mentioned East Cleveland Police Chief Brian Gerhard.

Already dealing with an amazing quantity of strain, Chief Brian Gerhard comes into this function after 9 cops, together with the previous Chief Scott Gardner, have been indicted for varied alleged crimes since final August.

Newly-released physique digital camera video reveals indicted East Cleveland Law enforcement officials lied, investigators say

“I’m not going to sit down there and make excuses for that video. It’s in your faces, plain and day. You see what’s happening in these movies. That’s not what we prepare individuals to do,” mentioned Gerhard.

Then, there’s the newest FBI hotline in search of ideas from the general public on corruption and civil rights violations from East Cleveland police.

“We don’t want these individuals right here,” mentioned Gerhard. “I perceive there’s a story within the nation from the shootings of George Floyd, killing of George Floyd and totally different shootings in Minnesota and whatnot, that’s not East Cleveland. Don’t examine us to that.”

As a substitute, the Chief welcomes an open-door coverage.

“I can’t repair stuff if individuals aren’t coming to me and speaking to me about stuff,” mentioned Gerhard. “All it’s important to do is ask me. That’s how I’m going to police going ahead and my officers are going to be respectful to the general public.”

4 East Cleveland officers indicted for assaulting victims after site visitors stops in March and April

He additionally plans to implement extra self-discipline and a zero-tolerance coverage, beginning with restricted police chases.

“They’re not going to be chasing tinted home windows, any person operating a cease signal. They’re not going to fret about crap like that. We’ve sufficient expertise now the place we will get plates and discover the automotive. However one thing severe, murder, carjacking, we’re going to go after that particular person however it’s going to be with extra restraint,” mentioned Gerhard.

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