Thursday, May 20, 1999
Report evokes wait-and-see reaction
Many want to see how others turn out
BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Community leaders reacted cautiously to the report by an independent city agency that said the March 19 fatal shooting of a motorist by Cincinnati police was not justified.
In a report made public Wednesday, the Office of Municipal Investigations (OMI) said Officer Brent McCurley should not have fired the shots that killed Michael Carpenter during a traffic stop in Northside. The report found no wrongdoing by Officer Michael B. Miller II, who also fired but missed.
The Rev. Damon Lynch Jr., former president of the Baptist Ministers Conference, said OMI's report is a bright spot, but investigations pending with the Hamilton County prosecutor's office and the police division's internal investigations unit will have “teeth” to them.
“The city manager, the chief of police and the safety director ought to come out and get in unison, and if this man (Officer McCurley) is guilty, then he should be prosecuted .. like any other citizen,” the Rev. Mr. Lynch said.
A spokesman for the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati said the organization doesn't think it's appropriate to comment on the findings of the OMI report.
The Urban League thinks that releasing the report “was a very positive step taken by OMI and the city manager. ... I think it's a healthy thing for the community,” said Tom Hanrahan, vice president of finance for the Urban League.
“I don't know whether it's appropriate to say whether we agree or disagree with their findings. The report is very thorough, and there isn't any reason to question the report.”
Reaction was mixed among callers to a radio show hosted by Lincoln Ware on WCIN-AM (1480), a radio station aimed primarily at the African-American community. Mr. Carpenter was black.
“A lot of the callers are still skeptical. They think once the internal investigation comes out, it'll differ from the OMI investigation ... because they look at the internal investigation as more of a police policing themselves type of investigation,” Mr. Ware said.
Evanston resident Mikal Ali, who was among the faction early this month at City Hall protesting the fatal shooting, said “this report means absolutely nothing. Disciplinary action — what does that mean? It could mean suspension. It could mean reprimand. It could mean anything.” OMI's report suggested no specific disciplinary actions.
Jay Salt of Avondale, another protester, said the OMI findings are what he expected.
“I wouldn't say I'm happy because (the investigations are) still not over with, and there's still a life loss. And now we got two officers — pretty much their careers are on the line here,” the 37-year-old Avondale resident said. “Either way, it's nothing to rejoice about.”
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