Former Cleveland Officer Involved in Tamir Rice Shooting Hired in West Virginia
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A report reveals that Timothy Loehmann, the former Cleveland police officer who fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, has been employed by two law enforcement agencies in West Virginia, sparking outrage and renewed calls for accountability. The findings, uncovered by Dragline, a nonprofit news organization affiliated with the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia, indicate Loehmann was hired by the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office in August and the Snowshoe Resort Community District in June.
Recurring Concerns Over Loehmann’s Employment
This is not the first time Loehmann’s employment has drawn controversy. Following the shooting of Tamir Rice, Loehmann faced intense scrutiny. He was ultimately terminated by the Cleveland Police Department in 2017, not for the shooting itself, but for dishonesty on his employment application. City officials determined he had failed to disclose a prior dismissal from the Independence Police Department, where he was deemed unfit for duty.
Despite this history, Loehmann has repeatedly sought and briefly held positions with other police departments, only to resign amid public backlash. Prior to West Virginia, he worked briefly for the White Sulphur Springs Police Department last year, and previously held positions in Tioga, Pennsylvania (2022) and Bellaire, Ohio (2018), each time leaving after his past came to light.
Rice Family and Advocates Demand Action
The news of Loehmann’s latest hires has ignited a firestorm of criticism. Subodh Chandra, legal counsel for Samaria Rice, Tamir’s mother, issued a scathing statement, asserting that Loehmann poses a risk to public safety. “Timothy Loehmann has no business being entrusted with a badge and a gun,” Chandra stated. “And those who were imbecilic and heartless enough to hire him should be stripped of their jobs, just as has happened in other communities. What is wrong with these people? They have betrayed the public trust.”
Samaria Rice herself expressed bewilderment and frustration. “This man lied on his application to be a police officer in the first place,” Rice told Dragline. “He was crying on the gun range and was very careless with his gun. That proves that he’s unfit. I don’t understand what’s going on here.”
The Rice family is now hoping for a public outcry similar to those that led to Loehmann’s previous resignations. Chandra indicated the family hopes “people will rise up and protest, just as they did in other towns where Loehmann was entrusted with a weapon again.”
The 2014 Shooting of Tamir Rice
The incident that brought Loehmann into the national spotlight occurred on November 22, 2014, at the Cudell Recreation Center in Cleveland. Loehmann, a rookie officer at the time, shot Tamir Rice while the boy was playing with an airsoft pellet gun. Tamir succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting were heavily criticized. The responding officers, including Loehmann and veteran officer Frank Garmback, responded to a 911 call reporting someone with a gun. Crucially, the caller informed the dispatcher that the weapon “looked fake,” but this vital information was not relayed to the officers on scene. Garmback received a 10-day suspension, later reduced to five days by an arbitrator.
Lack of Transparency from West Virginia Agencies
Dragline’s investigation revealed a lack of transparency from the West Virginia agencies that hired Loehmann. The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office and the Snowshoe Resort Community District both declined to comment on the hiring decision. Chandra further accused Snowshoe of “stonewalling” his request for public records related to Loehmann’s employment.
The ongoing cycle of Loehmann’s hiring and subsequent resignations raises serious questions about vetting processes and accountability within law enforcement, and underscores the enduring pain and frustration felt by the Rice family and advocates for police reform.
