Six Cincinnati police officers who shot beanbags into a crowd of peaceful protesters Saturday have been put on paid administrative for their “mental well-being,” City Manager John Shirey said Thursday.

        Mr. Shirey said the officers were upset about investigations launched by the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department, and by intense media scrutiny the incident is receiving.

UNDER REVIEW
Bruner	Hall
• Spec. Todd Bruner, 31, white, on the force since 1993. He teaches defensive tactics and physical fitness at the police academy. He is in excellent physical shape and a great teacher, according to his latest evaluation.   • Sgt. Eric Hall, 41, Asian, on the force since 1989. He was promoted last year, works in inspections, and has FBI basic and advanced sniper training.
Pappas	Ventre
• Tim Pappas, 34, white, on the force since June 1997. He was shot in the hand Nov. 8 when shoplifting suspect Jeffrey Irons grabbed a sergeant's gun and fired at him. Another officer killed Mr. Irons.   • Jennifer Ventre, 34, white, officer since September 1990. She was promoted to specialist six years ago and trains recruits in writing reports and fitness. She is described as highly motivated and a logical thinker.
UNDERCOVER OFFICERS   • John Mercado, 34, 10-year veteran, Hispanic. The former Marine is considered an excellent drug investigator.   • Sgt. Arthur Schultz, 37, white, officer more than a decade, promoted in 1997. He is assigned to the undercover Street Corner drug unit. He earned praise 2 1/2 years ago for his patience with crowds, something a supervisor said helped District 1 avoid a “hot summer.”

        “We felt they needed the time off for their own mental well-being,” Mr. Shirey said. “We didn't remove their police powers and they could be called into duty at any time.”

        He said the city waited until Wednesday to act because the officers — all SWAT-team members — were shooting beanbag guns, which aren't addressed in the city's shooting policy. If the officers had fired live ammunition, the city's policy would have required them to be put on immediate leave.

        Greg Baker, the city's acting safety director, said Thursday the paid leave is not disciplinary and was ordered by police physicians because of the officers' mental and physical conditions.

        “The officers were upset,” Mr. Shirey said. “The investigations stepped up and then stepped up again.”

        Internal-affairs investigators have stopped probing the incident because the FBI is conducting what is considered a full investigation, Chief Tom Streicher said Thursday.

        Six police officers and an Ohio state trooper fired into a crowd walking from the funeral of Timothy Thomas. The April 7 shooting death of Mr. Thomas, who was unarmed, by a Cincinnati police officer sparked last week's protests and riot.

        Police have released audio and written transcripts of Saturday's dispatcher/police radio traffic.

        At 4:09 p.m. that day, an officer alerted a dispatcher about a crowd gathering.

        “You've got a dozen protesters blocking Elm Street on the north side at Liberty,” the officer says.

        Two minutes later, officers report that a crowd is blocking northbound traffic at Central Parkway and Liberty Street.

        “If they're blocking traffic and there's a field force available, clear the street,” a supervisor tells the officers.

        At 4:20 p.m., an officer in a police helicopter reports, “You've got a crowd forming in front of your squad there at Elm and Liberty in front of the KFC.”

        Seconds later, another officer on the street reports, “They're throwing bottles at Liberty and Elm into the street.”

        At 4:21 p.m., the dispatcher tells the supervisor of a cell-phone call reporting a woman who said she was shot in the back of the neck with a rubber bullet.

        Councilman John Cranley questioned why Mr. Shirey waited until Wednesday before taking action, but he praised Chief Streicher's action at the scene of the shooting at Liberty and Elm streets. He said the chief managed to assuage anger by walking into the middle of the crowd and talking to people.

        Police union President Keith Fangman and Scotty Johnson, president of the Sentinels group of black officers, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

        Ohio State Trooper Bradley Bishop, also involved in the shooting, has not been put on leave. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is conducting a review of force, something done every time an officer uses any force.

        The six officers are: Spec. Todd Bruner, 31, who teaches defensive tactics and physical fitness at the training academy; Sgt. Eric Hall, 41, who has FBI advanced sniper training; John Mercado, 34, 10-year veteran; Tim Pappas, 34, on the force since 1997; Sgt. Arthur Schultz, 37, 10-year veteran, undercover drug investigator; Jennifer Ventre, 34, officer more than 10 years.

        Reporter William A. Weathers contributed.

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