Two Hundred and Counting

Cleveland Police Officer Acquitted of Manslaughter in 2012 Deaths, read Marquel, TPVs NYTimes Empty The Clip Section correspondent. Altogether, 139 shots were fired at an unnamed black couple,  killing both. After a high speed chase,  their car was cornered and police stopped shooting.  All except officer Brelo, who jumped on the hood and put at least 15 more rounds through the windshield.

Brelo elected a nonjury trial because in mostly black Cleveland,  the jury would not have deliberated at all.  They would have acted instead,  stringing him up over the nearest overpass,  which are quite common there,  allowing white residents to get home to their gated communities as fast as possible.

The judge found Brelo not guilty,  not because he didn’t act criminally,  but get this: the police fired so many bullets that the DA couldn’t prove that it was Brelo‘ last fifteen that hit their mark. Marquel was stunned by both the judge’s creative decision but also by the stunning consequences.

Marquel contacted the Cleveland Police.

“This is a fantastic day for all of us,” said their spokesperson.

“When you say ‘us’ do you mean Cleveland’s black community? ” Asked Marquel.

He sounded genuinely surprised.  “Why,  no,  of course not. I mean us,  the police.”

“That’s because you go out day and night,  risking your lives to protect the community?” Asked Marquel.

“Jeez,  finally someone who gets it.  Yes you’re right.” He confirmed.

“But how come if you’re risking your lives,  you guys walk away from dead bodies,  usually black bodies,  so often? ” asked Marquel.

“We’re better trained.  And we protect our brothers. ” He said.

“To tell the truth,  that’s what’s worrying me.  What did you guys learn from this incident? 139 shots is a lot.  Do you think you overreacted? ” Asked Marquel.

“Overreacted?  Hardly.  What we learned is it takes 139 shots to protect a brother from conviction. ” He said.

“Really?  How’s that? ” I asked.

“The message is clear.  We’ve all discussed it and agree over the signal the judge was sending us.” He said.

“Let me ask you.  If you were an accused officer would you want your brothers to shoot three times or two hundred shots?” He asked.

“I would think the less shots the better ” I said.

“Wrong.  Think what the judge told us to do.  The more shots that are fired,  the more impossible it is to prove that one of us killed the deceased.” He said.

I think it might be ‘deceaseds’ when there’s more than one.  But I’m not sure. Go on.   I didn’t mean to interrupt. ” I said.

“Deceased deceaseds. Whatever,  the new manual now says to shoot an unlimited amount of times to avoid having an officer get in trouble.  Right now our working number is 200.”

“So from now on if there’s a shooting,  at least 200 times? ” I asked.

“Yes to better serve and protect.  And we follow the law.” He said.

I hung up.  This was troubling.  But New York invented the practice with 41 shots at an unarmed Amadou Diallo almost ten years ago.  Cleveland and other provincials are always a few steps behind.  I was still proud to be a New Yorker but clearly Cleveland is hot on our heels.

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By MARQUEL: Two Hundred and Counting