I've seen the light. It's just a sliver — a narrow crack where a door has opened a few inches. But if we seize the moment, we might open it wide enough to see what's on the other side. I think we will find reconciliation. An end to boycotts, protests and threats of violence. Peace.

        Maybe I'm crazy, but as I sat in the council chamber at City Hall on Tuesday and listened to Police Chief Tom Streicher carefully explain what really happened April 7, I felt more hope than dismay.

        The chief used charts and maps. His presentation went through the report detail by detail. Color photos were blown up to picture windows to give everyone a clear view of what took place. A short videotape was played, backed up and played again, so there could be no mistake.

        When it was over, anyone with a reasonable, open mind could not escape the inevitable conclusion: Officer Stephen Roach accidentally shot Timothy Thomas during a foot chase, then lied about it. He claimed it was self-defense until he was confronted with irrefutable evidence that shot a fatal hole in his story.

        As the facts were laid out for viewing, the dead man's mother sat in the front row and trembled and cried. The media milled, outnumbering the sparse crowd. Council members were riveted to the police chief, as if his words finally could untangle a city that has been tied in knots for a year.

        And maybe they can, if we do what Officer Roach should have done: Face the truth, admit our mistakes, apologize and learn from it.

Admit it

        Maybe protesters can admit that Officer Roach was an anxious, scared young cop whose accidental shooting is understandable. The alley where Mr. Thomas, with 14 warrants for his arrest, ran from cops is “the toughest intersection in town by far,” the chief says. A police map that marks recovered guns with black dots shows the corner of 13th and Republic as a spreading black stain of overlapping dots. No cop would enter that alley without gun drawn and a chest pounding with fear.

        Maybe cops can admit that dishonesty cannot be tolerated, and any cop who lies about a critical incident or hides behind lawyers to conceal the truth should find a new career.

        Maybe our city leaders can admit that it's a travesty of justice when internal investigations drag out until the cop has escaped discipline by taking a new job.

        Maybe the city of Evendale and Judge Ralph Winkler can admit that it's better not to hire a cop or seal his trial record until all facts are out.

        Maybe we all can admit that jumping to conclusions is a good way to wind up bruising our pride.

        Maybe — big maybe — white Cincinnati can admit being wrong this time. Cops deserve the benefit of the doubt for the dangerous work they do. But those who know the facts and still cling to Officer Roach as a hero or victim are no better than protesters who call him a murderer.

        And if white Cincinnati has the courage and integrity to admit a mistake, maybe black Cincinnati can, too.

        “The admission of wrong has to be on both sides,” said Michael Howard of Mount Auburn Methodist Church in a call Wednesday morning.

        “We have a tremendous responsibility as African-Americans for the youth that is out on the streets. What was Timmy doing there?”

        The door is ajar. That light trickling out is the truth. And if we all have the courage to face it, the truth can set us free.
        E-mail: pbronson@enquirer.com. Past columns at Enquirer.com/columns/bronson

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