"Weepy," "distracted" and immature: That's how 26-year-old police officer Tim Loehmann was described by his former deputy police chief two years before he shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland.
Documents obtained by Cleveland.com detail Loehmann's six-month tenure as an officer in the Independence, Ohio, Police Department.
Per Cleveland.com: The department "parted ways" with Loehmann exactly two years ago today (he was "allowed to resign"). Loehmann was hired by Cleveland police in March.
According to Cleveland.com, it's unclear if they knew of Loehmann's previous issues, which stretch back to his time in police academy and "came to a head" during a state gun qualification session while at Indepdence PD.
"He could not follow simple directions, could not communicate clear thoughts nor recollections, and his handgun performance was dismal," according to a memo written by Deputy Chief Jim Polak. "... I do not believe time, nor training, will be able to change or correct the deficiencies."
"Unfortunately in law enforcement there are times when instructions need to be followed to the letter and I am under the impression that Ptl. Loehmann, under certain circumstances, will not react in the way instructed," Polak wrote, later adding: "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."
Polak's report makes further mention of three other incidents which "when taken together ... show a pattern of a lack of maturity, indiscretion and not following instructions."
Just days before his resignation, "Loehmann was ordered to stay in the Independence police dispatch center. Loehmann left without authorization and lied to [a police sergeant] that the dispatchers told him he could leave, the letter says. Loehmann eventually admitted to lying."
Loehmann's sergeant also reported that he left his gun unsecured overnight and, after first being issued his bulletproof vest and told to "wear it in order to get used to it," took it off after 30 minutes because he was "too warm."
Rice was shot on Nov. 22 outside of a recreation center while carrying a BB gun, less than two seconds after Loehmann and his partner arrived on the scene, according to video. A call to 911 had earlier described someone carrying a gun that was "probably fake."
Police say that Rice reached for the gun in his waistband before being shot, but did not threaten the officers in any way. Rice died the next day.
"'I was right there and he went for the gun,'" Loehmann's father recalled his son saying. "'I had no choice.'"
Loehmann is reportedly under investigation by Cleveland police's use of deadly force investigation team.
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