BY JULIE RALSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Lorenzo Collins

A federal grand jury should review the police shooting of escaped mental patient Lorenzo Collins, Cincinnati Vice Mayor Tyrone Yates said Sunday.

Mr. Yates said he has met with U.S. attorney designate Sharon J. Zealey and requested the review.

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

He called the conversation with Ms. Zealey consistent with the request city council made in May for an FBI review of the shooting of Mr. Collins.

"I thought my face-to-face meeting with her to describe my concern as chairman of the Law Committee would be an adjunct to the FBI review," he said.

On Feb. 23, Mr. Collins escaped from a locked psychiatric unit at University Hospital and was cornered by Cincinnati and University of Cincinnati police officers. He was shot and killed after threatening them with a brick.

Critics unsatisfied

Investigations by police and the Hamilton County prosecutor's office found no criminal wrongdoing by the officers involved. A report issued by the city's Office of Municipal Investigation this month said the officers who shot Mr. Collins should not have opened fire, but it didn't call for disciplinary action, only more training for police.

The most recent finding angered some, including members of the Baptist Ministers Conference and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, who have organized protests and demonstrations.

A spokesman with the Department of Justice would not discuss the Collins investigation but said the determination whether to convene a grand jury comes after a federal review.

"Generally, if we have a report of an incident that may violate the Civil Rights Act, we'll investigate, and that usually involves an FBI review," spokesman Joe Krovisky said Sunday. "After evidence is gathered, a determination is made whether to convene a grand jury or dismiss charges."

Waiting for a response

Mr. Yates said his meeting with Ms. Zealey was prompted by what he considers "gaps" in the city's internal review of the Collins case. He also said he wanted to learn the process involved in assembling a federal grand jury.

"Frankly, it is not a reaction to public protest," Mr. Yates said. "It comes as a result of several years of seeing similar kinds of cases come through city council and the Cincinnati Police Division, and this particular case appearing to be the most egregious. . . . It is not only irresponsible but dangerous to make these kind of requests on the basis of public pressure or protest."

Mr. Yates expects a quick response from Ms. Zealey as to whether his request should go to the U.S. attorney or the Department of Justice. Ms. Zealey could not be reached for comment Sunday night.

Previous stories

BLACKS VOW TO ESCALATE PROTESTS August 12, 1997
CITY ISSUES COLLINS REPORT August 5, 1997
COPS SHOULDN'T HAVE FIRED, OMI SAYS August 2, 1997
COLLINS REPORT LEAVES QUESTIONS August 2, 1997
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