If our grief were colorblind - Opinion - The News Herald

" The Cleveland murderer cop had bad record as a cop.  "Initially, Loehmann was depicted as a young cop who, according to an interview with his father, had left a suburban police force for Cleveland's because he wanted more action.

On the day of Tamir's funeral, that suburban police department, in Independence, Ohio, released Loehmann's personnel file, revealing a far more troubling story behind his December 2012 departure.

From Deputy Chief Jim Polak's Nov. 29, 2012, letter in Loehmann's personnel file:

"It appears from the pattern developing within our short time frame with Ptl. Loehmann that he often feels that when told to do something, that those instructions are optional, and that he can manipulate them if he so feels it can better serve him. I do not say he is doing this for some benefit, or in an insubordinate way, but he just appears to have the mind set that if he thinks he knows better, (then) that is the course he follows.

"Due to his dangerous loss of composure during live range training and his inability to manage this personal stress, I do not believe Ptl. Loehmann shows the maturity needed to work in our employment.

"Unfortunately in law enforcement there are times when instructions need (to) be followed to the letter, and I am under the impression Ptl. Loehmann, under certain circumstances, will not react in the way instructed. ...

"...I am recommending he be released from the employment of the City of Independence. I do not believe time, nor training, will be able to change or correct these deficiencies."