Cleveland Police Ban Firing at Moving Vehicles

Aug. 29, 2013
Police Chief Michael McGrath has ordered his officers not to shot at or from a moving vehicle.

The Cleveland Police Department has banned its officers from shooting at or from a moving vehicle.

The policy change, announced Wednesday, is one of 26 recommendations from a Police Executive Research Forum review into the department's use-of-force policies and practices, according to The Plain Dealer.

"We're just trying to do the right thing," Police Chief Michael McGrath said during the press conference at City Hall.

The chief added that the decision had nothing to do with a November 2012 police pursuit that ended in the fatal shooting of two unarmed suspects.

McGrath said that officers will be prohibited from firing from or at a vehicle unless deadly force is being used against the police officer or another person present by means other than the vehicle itself.

"If you have a vehicle that is refusing to stop, that is not justification for firing at that vehicle, period," he said.

The order is similar to ones in cities including Philadelphia, Miami and New York City, but the police union claims it goes too far.

"If you have a mother and child out there and a vehicle is being used as deadly force, are we not supposed to take action?" Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association President Jeff Follmer told the newspaper. "A vehicle can be used as deadly force, and we should be able to use deadly force to stop a vehicle."

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