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CLEVELAND – 75 Cleveland patrol officers have been found in violation of departmental rules and regulations for their roles in a deadly November chase.

Disciplinary hearings for the officers will begin immediately, according to McGrath.

19 officers face charges that could lead to a suspension of 10 days or more, he said.  Those officers will be disciplined by Public Safety Director Martin Flask. McGrath will oversee the remaining disciplinary hearings.

The charges against the officers involve insubordination, joining the chase without permission and falsifying duty records.

None of the violations are serious enough to warrant termination, said McGrath.

Of the 277 officers on duty the night of Nov. 29,  a review committee determined 104 were involved in the deadly pursuit.

Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath and Mayor Frank Jackson announced the disciplinary charges during  a news conference Friday morning

Jackson acknowledged the chase and shooting have damaged the public’s trust in Cleveland’s police force.

“We have to let people know what we’re doing at every step so that they can see that we’re handling this right and that they should have the expectation that this will not happen again,” said Jackson.

McGrath did not release the officers’ names and would not speculate on what led to what the attorney general called a “systemic failure” during the chase until a review is complete.

In June, one supervisor was fired, two were demoted and nine others suspended following disciplinary hearings about their involvement .

The Nov. 29 chase ended when officers fired 137 shots at a car, killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, who were inside.

SOURCE: NewsNet5.com

Article and Picture Courtesy of WEWS NewsChannel 5