PUBLISHED: 07/10/17 04:15
COLUMBUS, Ohio
A Columbus Police officer who was seen on video kicking a suspect while on the ground has been fired.
The Director of Public Safety for the City of Columbus issued their ruling Monday afternoon.
Officer Zachary Rosen was under investigation for his actions involving a handcuffed suspect when the entire incident was caught on camera.
The incident happened on April 8 near the residence of the 3100 block of Maize Road.
According to the Columbus Division of Police, this type of force used by one of the officers was “outside of policy.”
Authorities said when Officer Rosen stomped the suspect he didn’t use a technique taught to Columbus Police officers.
Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs had recommended a 24-hour suspension for Rosen.
Officer Rosen was one of two officers cleared in the shooting death of Henry Green in June 2016.
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther released the following statement:
“Today’s decision was not a choice between supporting the police or supporting the community. It was about supporting fairness and due process.
I fully support the decision made by Director Pettus and am grateful for his thorough and thoughtful consideration. I am also grateful to the community and to the Columbus Division of Police for their patience.
In the coming weeks, there will be much discussion about this decision. What I believe we can all agree on is that every person in every neighborhood deserves to be safe. That can only happen if the Division of Police and the community they serve work together.”
The union representing Columbus, Ohio, police is demanding the immediate reinstatement of an officer fired after he subdued a restrained suspect in a way that appeared to show him kicking the suspect in the head, according to published reports.
Local Fraternal Order of Police President Jason Pappas says officer Zachary Rosen was fired in an unjust manner in a political decision by city administrators.
(April 2017 News Report)