The lesson: Don't run from a Cincinnati police officer. Trainers at the Cincinnati Police Academy spent Monday afternoon explaining to 35 Madisonville teen-agers the consequences of disobeying a cop's order to stop — a timely topic given the April 7 death of Timothy Thomas, shot while running from officers.

Latrice Davis reacts when Jimmy the police horse snorts at her after she petted him. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        “I learned that, like, if you get an attitude, they have Mace and stuff,” said Archie Sanders, 13, a seventh-grader at Bramble Academy.

        Officials considered canceling the day, scheduled for some time, but decided it was exactly the type of thing the police division needs to do to improve relations between Cincinnatians and their police officers.

        “Baby steps,” Sgt. Anthony Shearer said. “Especially with relationships as strained as they are, we want to create more dialogue and community forums so we learn to respect each other and our differences.”

        The day began with general talk about mutual respect, but graduated to specifics about when officers can use their chemical irritant, batons and other kinds of force.

        “We learned that you've got to be respectful,” said Latrice Davis, 14, an eighth-grader. “because some bad things can happen.”

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