Six of the Cincinnati Police Division's most well-trained, elite officers are being investigated for their involvement in the Saturday shooting of beanbags into a crowd of peaceful protesters.

UNDER REVIEW
Bruner	Hall
• Spec. Todd Bruner, 31, white, on the force since 1993. He teaches defensive tactics and physical fitness at the police academy. He is in excellent physical shape and a great teacher, according to his latest evaluation.   • Sgt. Eric Hall, 41, Asian, on the force since 1989. He was promoted last year, works in inspections, and has FBI basic and advanced sniper training.
Pappas	Ventre
• Tim Pappas, 34, white, on the force since June 1997. He was shot in the hand Nov. 8 when shoplifting suspect Jeffrey Irons grabbed a sergeant's gun and fired at him. Another officer killed Mr. Irons.   • Jennifer Ventre, 34, white, officer since September 1990. She was promoted to specialist six years ago and trains recruits in writing reports and fitness. She is described as highly motivated and a logical thinker.
• John Mercado, 34, 10-year veteran, Hispanic. The former Marine is considered an excellent drug investigator.   • Sgt. Arthur Schultz, 37, white, officer more than a decade, promoted in 1997. He is assigned to the undercover Street Corner drug unit. He earned praise 2 1/2 years ago for his patience with crowds, something a supervisor said helped District 1 avoid a “hot summer.”

        They're a racially diverse group, and all are members of the department's SWAT team. They supervise people, train recruits and have been commended for their roles in large drug busts.

        And because they're role models to younger officers, the six are considered among the best the city's police force has to offer.

        But according to witnesses, they sped to Liberty and Elm streets at around 4 p.m. Saturday after a call about a large crowd blocking the intersection, jumped out of their cruisers and fired without warning. They fired seven or eight times, witnesses say, then left in seconds.

        The incident continues to be widely publicized because it happened in front of several reporters and photographers. And it's controversial because of its timing — shortly after the funeral of Timothy Thomas, 19. He was killed April 7 while running from police officers who were trying to arrest him on 12 misdemeanor charges and two warrants.

        Saturday's incident also came in the middle of relative calm after days of rioting in the city.

        The officers remain on duty while the investigation continues.

        However, some demand disciplinary action be taken.

        Heidi Bruins, a Procter & Gamble employee from Northside, complained about the incident Tuesday to council members. She and a friend were driving through the intersection in Over-the-Rhine when they saw the officers fire.

        “I'm from Southern California,” she said, “and this looked liked a drive-by shooting. This is unacceptable, purely and simply. (They) ... are not fit to be officers and carry a gun in this city.”

        Scotty Johnson, president of the Sentinels, a group of black police officers, also called for the officers to be disciplined.

        Chief Tom Streicher has said news on the investigation would come soon, but no new information was released Tuesday.

        Both the division's internal affairs unit and the FBI are investigating. More than 40 witnesses have been interviewed. Among those near the scene: Cecil Thomas, a former police officer and president of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, who was talking to Doreen Cudnik, executive director of Stonewall Cincinnati.

        Fraternal Order of Police President Keith Fangman called for the community to withhold judgment until the investigation concludes.

        “The officers are going to get a chance to tell their side of the story,” he said. “I thought we learned our lessons as a city to wait for the investigation to be finished before everyone jumps to conclusions.”

Jahcol Lowry, 7, was hit by a beanbag at Liberty and Elm. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Two adults and two children were hit Saturday with the beanbags, less-than-lethal weapons Cincinnati police used to disperse crowds throughout last week's violence.

        The violence was prompted by the killing of Mr. Thomas, who was shot and killed by Officer Steve Roach, a four-year veteran. Mr. Thomas was the 15th black male to die in confron tations with police since 1995.

        Louisville high-school teacher Christine Jones was hospitalized with a bruised spleen, cracked rib and bruised lung.

        Beanbag projectiles and the sponge-ball rounds Cincinnati police used during the riots are some of the newer crowd-control weapons available to law enforcement. During the riots after the 1992 beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles, for example, officers did not have the less-than-lethal choices.

Christine Jones is helped to an ambulance. She was hospitalized with multiple injuries. (Victoria Spurling photo) | ZOOM |

        That's why two lieutenants from the Long Beach, Calif., Police Department, flew in to Cincinnati during the riots this week — to watch how officers here used them.

        Cincinnati bought 60 bean bag guns in 1997, after the fatal shooting that year of escaped mental patient Lorenzo Collins, who wielded a brick.

        The beanbags, about the size of a tea bag, are filled with an ounce of lead birdshot. Getting hit with one, police officials say, feels like being hit by a fastball thrown by a professional baseball player.

        Cincinnati officers do not routinely carry the less-than-lethal options, including the beanbag guns and Tasers, battery-operated devices that shoot 50,000 volts up to 15 feet. That's sometimes enough to knock a person to the ground. Officers call for them when they feel they are needed.

INFOGRAPHIC

Non-lethal police weapons

        Policy for their regular use calls for an officer to be between 30 and 75 feet from the suspect when the gun is fired. Officers also are instructed to aim at “center mass” — meaning the torso, avoiding the head, neck and groin, if possible.

        Most suburban Tristate departments do not have the beanbag guns or the launchers that release the 40mm sponge rounds. Some are considering them, given what they saw from Over-the-Rhine last week.

        “They were very effective for what they were used for without causing major injuries,” said Frank Maupin, acting chief in Madeira. “I think they are great because it enables you to use something without having to go to lethal force.”

        His city has had beanbags for two years, but has never used them.

        Norwood officers have beanbags and Tasers. Rubber projectiles are on the way.

        “We instructed our officers last week to either bounce them into the legs or chest area,” said Norwood Chief William Schlie. “They are effective. Still, an officer's got to use some common sense.”

        Patrick Crowley and David Eck contributed.

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