Call Chief Tom Streicher the last man standing.

        When the smoke clears on the police department's two biggest internal-affairs investigations, after the acquittals and the hung jury, after resignations and shiny new careers for two officers — and too long after the deaths of two unarmed men — Police Chief Streicher may be the last person we have left to blame.

        It's already happening.

        On Tuesday, Chief Streicher spent hours before an unsympathetic City Council committee describing the Lie that Ballooned into a Riot.

        The Lie was that Timothy Thomas' refusal to put up his hands — and not Officer Stephen Roach's jog with his finger on the trigger — led the officer to shoot Mr. Thomas to death.

        Chief Streicher tried explaining how police knew within hours that Officer Roach was lying, yet it took six months, a trial and six more months of investigation for that fact to mean anything.

        Now Officer Roach is out of punishment's reach. He has taken a job on Evendale's police force, and Cincinnati is stuck with the bill for his mistake.
       

Helping hands

        There are others, too, who helped ensure Officer Roach's ride to freedom. And, at least for now, they won't have to answer for it.

        There was Municipal Judge Ralph Winkler, who in September acquitted Officer Roach of the shooting because Officer Roach said he feared for his life. The judge spoke in glowing terms about Officer Roach's “unblemished” record, and nearly blamed Mr. Thomas' death on the dead man himself.

        Later, when Judge Winkler ordered the trial record sealed, he salted the wound: “I have never seen a person more worthy of having his record cleared, or sealed, than Officer Roach,” he said.

        Sucker.

        Then there is Evendale, which in January came to Officer Roach's rescue.
       

Must prove intent

        Don't expect the federal civil-rights investigation to result in charges. Civil-rights experts say you have to prove intent to violate a person's rights; accidents don't count. Again, great timing for Officer Roach.

        And on Wednesday, the pattern continued as another officer moved out of punishment's way.

        Officer Robert “Blaine” Jorg, who was acquitted of assault in the beating and asphyxiation of Roger Owensby Jr., quit the force. His rescuing agent and new employer: Pierce Township in Clermont County.

        Chief Streicher had just asked council for 30 to 60 more days to investigate Mr. Jorg and fellow officer Patrick Caton. Officer Caton also was acquitted of assaulting Mr. Owensby. A hung jury couldn't decide on the more serious allegation of involuntary manslaughter against Officer Jorg.

        The whole affair leaves only Officer Caton in the Cincinnati Police Department.

        There is really only one place for the buck to stop, for the police-custody deaths, for the summer of violence and slowed police work, for the impotent internal police investigations and the continuing assault upon the public trust.

        Chief Streicher knows this. That's why he sent out a lengthy letter to his officers this week warning of swift discipline if officers lie. Too bad they sound like empty threats.

        It's time for city officials to take steps so we're not fooled again.

        They should urge police to speed up, not slow down, the internal investigation; establish and embrace a stronger, more active Citizens Police Review Panel; and begin interviewing now for a new police chief.

        Denise Smith Amos can be reached at 768-8395, or e-mail
       damos@enquirer.com.

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