Plain Dealer Reporter

They may use military-style tactical rifles

Cleveland police could enter an arms race next year to combat criminals who outfit themselves with high-powered weapons.

A Police Department committee is considering plans to purchase military-style tactical rifles and assign them to some officers on the street.

The city would join hundreds of departments across the country that have increased their firepower with the AR-15, a civilian version of the military M-16 rifle. SWAT teams already use the weapon. The rifles allow officers to keep distance between them and a gunman and are more accurate than shotguns.

Full Story at Cleveland.com 

Sunday, February 10, 2008

The Associated Press
CLEVELAND The city agreed to pay $1 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the mother of a teenager who was shot and killed by police.

Harriet Green said Friday the settlement, which contains no admission of guilt, still achieves justice for her son, Ricardo Mason, 16, who was shot Aug. 27, 2002, while riding in a stolen car.

The city settled because it did not want the officers exposed to potential personal liability, said Law Director Robert Triozzi.

Two officers in a cruiser chased the stolen car into an alley. Officer Matthew Baeppler shot the driver, Malcolm Hoyle, 16, in the face. Officer Robert Taylor, who was struck by the car as it backed up, shot and killed Mason as he fired on Hoyle, Triozzi said.

A grand jury cleared the officers of wrongdoing. Hoyle, who survived the gunshot, was sentenced to five years’ probation in 2003 on an involuntary manslaughter charge; prosecutors said he was indicted because his actions led to Mason’s being shot.

Hoyle violated probation and was sent to prison for one year.