The cop who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice has been fired. Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann was fired for "lying on his application" with the department, Cleveland.com reported Tuesday. As Cleveland Public Safety Director Michael McGrath explained to reporters, Loehmann's previous probationary status at the department made the firing easier.
Samaria Rice, Tamir's mother, told reporters Tuesday that Loehmann's firing was a relief. "He should have never been a police officer anyway," she said. Samaria also called for the firing of Loehmann's partner, Frank Garmback. "[He] should be fired also for pulling up so close to Tamir, to create the murder of Tamir," she said. "Now we all must get involved to create a safer community."
Garmback has been temporarily suspended after an investigation found that his tactics during the shooting of Rice violated the department's policies. According to the Washington Post, Garmback will also be required to participate in tactical training courses.
As noted by the Post's Wesley Lowery, Loehmann's firing is not directly related to Rice's death:
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Rice was shot and killed Nov. 22, 2014 when Loehmann and Garmback responded to a call of "a black male sitting on a swing and pointing a gun at people." The gun in question, however, was fake.
