Monday, the City of Cleveland announced a $6million settlement in the shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice. He was shot twice by officer Timothy Loehmann, as he played with a toy gun in the park, on November 22, 2014. Even though the money will not replace the life lost, many are glad that the family received compensation in their time of grief. However, not so much the Cleveland’s police union, who issued a statement that appears to blame the victim and his family for his death.
The statement by the police union expresses “hopes” that the family will “use some of the money” to educate kids about the dangers of carrying real or fake guns.
It reads:
“We can only hope the Rice family and their attorneys will use a portion of this settlement to help educate the youth of Cleveland in the dangers associated with the mishandling of both real and facsimile firearms,” the statement read. “Something positive must come from this tragic loss. That would be educating youth of the dangers of possessing a real or replica firearm.”
This statement is a slap in the face to those still grieving the loss of life and this isn’t the first time in which the Cleveland Poloce Union has spoken in such an offencive manner.
Read More: Cleveland Police Union Chief on MSNBC: Shooting 12 Year Old Boy was ‘Justified’
The Rice family did file a wrongful death lawsuit alleging the police officers were reckless. This was further supported by surveillance footage showing officer Loehmann firing twice at Tamir only seconds after opening the door of his police cruiser.
Our prayers are with the Rice family in these trying times.
