Trigger Happy Cop Who Killed Tamir Rice ‘Lacked Maturity to Be On Force’ At Prior Job

April Weathers

12 years ago

Much like the killing of unarmed teenager Mike Brown and choke-hold death of Eric Garner, the shooting and killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice by Officer Timothy Loehmann has drawn national attention.

However, what is drawing more attention to the case is the fact that Loehmann was deemed emotionally unstable and unfit for duty at his previous police job in the small town of Independence.
Deputy Chief Jim Polak recommended that Loehmann be dismissed in a November 2012 memo, questioning Loehmann’s ability to follow instructions and make good decisions in stressful situations.

Polak cited a report from a firearms instructor stating Loehmann as “distracted,” “weepy” and unable to “communicate clear thoughts,” as a result of which “his handgun performance was dismal.”

On Nov. 29, 2012, Polak wrote:

“Due to this dangerous loss of composure during live range training and his inability to manage this personal stress, I do not believe Ptl. Loehmann shows the maturity needed to work in our employment. I do no believe time nor training, will be able to change or correct the deficiencies.”

Polak ended his report saying that Loehmann had shown a “dangerous loss of composure” during live range training and lacked the maturity to be on the force. Days later, Loehmann resigned from the Independence police force.

Loehmann and his partner were allegedly responding to a call about a man pointing a gun at people in the park. The “man” turned out to be 12-year-old Tamir, playing in the park with an Airsoft replica of a semi-automatic weapon. In the video, Loehmann immediately fired his weapon upon getting out of his car.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdAYPQd1H1A]

With Loehmann’s disposition stated as unstable, one wonders why he was hired by the Cleveland force in May. The case will be taken before a grand jury to decide whether there will be criminals charges levied against him.