Cleveland mayor Frank Jackson and other city officials discussed public safety with local residents last night in anticipation of a verdict in the trial of a Cleveland police officer. ideastream's Brian Bull reports:
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A verdict is expected as early as Monday in the trial of officer Michael Brelo. He's charged with voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of two unarmed suspects in 2012 following a chase that ended in police shooting 137 bullets into their car.
City officials have been anticipating demonstrations and possible violence.
Blaine Griffin is Community Relations Director. He told the crowd of about 75 local residents at the Fairfax Rec Center last night that the city has been working with clergy, activists, and civic leaders to promote peaceful protests. And he said one goal is to find “agitators” in the mix.
“That’s one of the things that we really want to discourage and we’re really asking a lot of the protesters to help us with that as well. We want to identify that element and separate them from the people that really want to protest peacefully, and speak out, the way that they deserve to speak out.”
City officials say they want volunteers to help monitor protests and help keep them peaceful.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Cleveland Police Department says their aim is to only intervene in protests if there’s a threat of violence.