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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland police officers involved in the shooting of Tamir Rice handcuffed and detained the boy's 14-year-old sister to maintain control of a "chaotic" shooting scene, according to the president of the police union.
"She was wild and out of control," Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association president Steve Loomis said. "She is understandably upset, but we have to take control of that scene."
The response comes after the nearly 30 minutes of video first obtained by Northeast Ohio Media Group showed the aftermath of the Nov. 22 shooting outside Cudell Recreation Center.
The new video shows the boy's sister rush toward her wounded brother. She is intercepted by Loehmann's partner Frank Garmback. The girl is knocked to the ground, handcuffed and placed in the back of the police car that stood less than 10 feet from her brother who lay shot.
She remained handcuffed in the back seat for at least 30 minutes, as officers stood around Tamir waiting for paramedics to arrive.
Loomis said in hindsight the officers' actions might seem "insensitive" to some, Garmback and Loehmann had no way of knowing the girl was Tamir's sister, and that they were trying to preserve evidence.
"It was a very chaotic scene, as they all are," Loomis said. "We want there to be a transparent and fair investigation, and part of that includes maintaining the integrity of the shooting scene."
The video also showed officers stood around the boy as he lay shot on the ground. About four minutes passes before a man in plain clothes — a medically-trained FBI agent who was nearby — shows up and renders aid.
Attorneys for the Rice family lambasted the department and the officers for not immediately trying to quell the boy's bleeding.
"No one thinks that it's appropriate to try to save him," Akron-based attorney Walter Madison said. "The first person who does is not affiliated with the Cleveland police department.
"This is the level of service that makes people very upset and distrustful of law enforcement."
The claim is also part of a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of Tamir's estate.
Loomis said officers are not "professional medical caregivers" and are only given about four hours of basic first aid training at the police academy.
"We could seriously hurt you if we do something wrong," Loomis said.
The Cleveland police department's public information officers did not respond to a Friday morning request for comment on the department's medical training.
The Northeast Ohio Media Group filed a public records request for the department's general police orders on administering aid. City officials have not responded.
Source:
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index...l#incart_river