When City Hall finally exonerated six Cincinnati cops in the "beanbag incident," one local TV station accompanied its story with videotape of a bleeding woman who was probably injured by rioters - not the cops.

It was an honest mistake. But it figures. The cops can't catch a break.

The scary story we've heard for 19 months: Six rogue cops did a "drive-by shooting" by firing beanbags into a small, peaceful crowd, without warning, as the city was returning to calm after the riots.

The report Wednesday was prepared by a Cincinnati Police Department captain, a lieutenant and four sergeants, based on interviews with 42 witnesses and 11 cops. It tells a very different story.

`Decisive action'

The incident at West Liberty and Elm streets on April 14, 2001, "occurred on the third day of a State of Emergency in the City of Cincinnati," the report says. The riots were just over. "The decisive action ... defused a situation which, if allowed to grow in magnitude, may have sparked more violence."

The crowd was not small or peaceful. Witnesses estimated that 60 to 100 people were at the intersection to protest during the funeral of a black suspect whose shooting by police triggered the riots.

The report reminds us what police had been through during the previous days: "Large crowds formed in the streets of the Over-the-Rhine and stopped traffic. Individuals in the crowds pulled drivers from their automobiles and assaulted and robbed the occupants ... (and) random acts of violence included one rape, 16 felonious assaults, including the shooting of a police officer, and three robberies."

The "rogue cops" were in fact the finest of Cincinnati's finest: SWAT cops who take extra training and psychological tests.

Rocks and bottles

When they were ordered to clear the intersection, the cops "observed people in the crowd holding rocks, bottles and sticks." They saw members of the New Black Panther Party, who were believed to be armed. The crowd was loud, abusive and disorderly. Despite sirens, hand gestures and shouted warnings, the crowd refused to leave and some advanced on the cops.

"All officers believed the crowd's actions were intended to intimidate them or prevent them from taking any police action," says the report.

The police aimed at the most threatening protesters and opened fire. The crowd evaporated, and the cops left - following approved tactics.

Twenty beanbag rounds were fired. Four people were injured. A man was bruised and sought no treatment. Two children were bruised, and were treated and released. A woman from Louisville was treated and released, but later claimed more serious injuries and won a court settlement.

Too bad there's no court to "settle" the damage that the bogus "drive-by" story has done to our city and our police.

The six cops, who had to spend about $15,000 each to defend themselves, can now be paid back by the city. They deserve it. But Cincinnati owes them something else: an apology.

E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.