BY TANYA BRICKING
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Lorenzo Collins Douglas Depodesta

For the first time since February's fatal shooting of brick-wielding mental patient Lorenzo Collins, a city investigation has found that the police officers who killed him should not have opened fire.

CLICK HERE for a summary and links to the three-day Enquirer series sparked by the shooting death of Lorenzo Collins.

In a report released Friday, the city's Office of Municipal Investigation (OMI), an independent agency that investigates complaints against police, says the crossfire danger was too great. Fifteen officers were on the scene plus bystanders.

Administrative reports by city and University of Cincinnati police cleared the two officers who shot Mr. Collins. The 25-year-old Avondale man confronted police with a brick minutes after he escaped from University Hospital Feb. 23.

"My report says the officers should not have fired because of the danger to civilians and other officers," said the report's author, Ernest McAdams Jr., assistant to the city manager. "That's an administrative issue and not a criminal issue."

Prosecutors have decided not to file criminal charges against city Officer Douglas Depodesta and campus Officer John Engel, who fired the shots.

Mr. McAdams' report offers no recommendations for discipline but suggests ways to improve training. He asks for more police supervisors on the street and improvement in areas such as firearms and non-lethal force training.

"I know people are tired of hearing this is a training issue," he said, "but that's really what it comes down to."

The report, to be presented Monday to City Councilman Tyrone Yates' law committee, already is drawing criticism.

"Both police and OMI say this was a legal thing to take place," Mr. Yates said.

"I don't think there is a court in this country that would say it's appropriate to shoot a citizen armed with a brick."

COLLINS REPORT LEAVES QUESTIONS

Previous stories

20 PROTEST AT COP'S HOME July 13, 1997
COLLINS CASE TO GET PUBLIC REVIEW July 3, 1997
POLICE ORDERED TO CARRY BATONS July 2, 1997
REVIEWS CLEAR POLICE IN COLLINS SHOOTING July 1, 1997
COLLINS CASE IS BEING DISTORTED An Editorial, June 8, 1997
POLICE SUPPORT OFFICERS IN SHOOTINGS June 5, 1997
POLICE UNION, PROTESTERS PLAN DEMONSTRATIONS June 3, 1997
ENOUGH GUILT TO SHARE Laura Pulfer column, June 3, 1997
SHOOT FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER Peter Bronson column, June 1, 1997
COLLINS PROTESTS CONTINUE May 31, 1997
RADIO LINKS ERRATIC IN COLLINS CHASE May 30, 1997
POLICY ON POLICE HOLDS UNCLEAR May 30, 1997
POLICE SUMMARY OF ITS INVESTIGATION May 29, 1997
DIAGRAM OF THE SHOOTING SCENE May 29, 1997
NO CRIME FOUND IN COLLINS SHOOTING May 29, 1997
NINE MINUTES OF CONFUSION: THE SHOOTING OF LORENZO COLLINS May 27, 1997
DIAGRAM RECONSTRUCTING THE EVENTS May 27, 1997
TRAINING, POLICIES AND POLICE ACTION May 27, 1997
WHY DID THE COPS KILL LORENZO? Peter Bronson column, May 25, 1997
BORGMAN CARTOON May 25, 1997
PUSH FOR POLICE REVIEW FEARED May 9, 1997
FBI TO REVIEW COLLINS CASE May 8, 1997
MARCHERS VOW SEASON OF DISRUPTIONS May 5, 1997
PROSECUTORS GET REPORT ON FATAL SHOOTING April 29, 1997
SHOOTING PROTESTERS ALLEGE POLICE BRUTALITY April 17, 1997
DEMONSTRATORS CITE SHOOTING OF MENTAL PATIENT March 24, 1997
BAPTIST MINISTERS PROTEST AGAINST POLICE March 20, 1997
LAWSUIT SEEKS $5 MILLION March 13, 1997
PUNISH POLICE, MARCHERS URGE March 5, 1997
FATAL SHOOTING CONCERNS COMMUNITY March 2, 1997
PROBE: POLICE FIRED FOUR SHOTS AT MAN WITH BRICK Feb. 25, 1997
MAN SHOT BY POLICE AFTER CHASE Feb. 24, 1997