Their arrests are connected to a wider investigation into the East Cleveland Police Department for corruption.
Two former East Cleveland, Ohio, police officers were sentenced this week for stealing thousands of dollars from people they pulled over during traffic stops.
A judge ordered Willie Sims, 32, to two years in prison Thursday. His partner, Alfonzo Cole, 35, was sentenced Monday to 2 1/2 years in prison and was fined $40,000, court records show.
In total, Sims and Cole stole $14,781 from six victims between July 2020 and July 2021 while on duty, prosecutors said. Cole also swiped two firearms from the victims, the Cuyahoga County Office of the Prosecutor said in a news release.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Russo told Sims that his actions have “disgraced” hard-working officers.
Two years in prison is not enough for this, I think a sentence of around 10 years would be more suitable.
Committing a crime while you’re in a government-given position of power should be a mandatory minimum of whatever the median sentence is for that crime, plus a 20% addition.
It should definitely come with extra penalties if you’re the one that’s supposed to uphold the law.
Right?
Filth. Vermin. How many other people did they screw over under the badge?
Yeah, I feel like all applications to be an officer of the law should come with the weight of “do I have the depth of character to fulfil this role” and the consequences of it clearly in front of them in making that decision.
Abusing the power granted to them by the state to commit crimes under the guise of law enforcement should earn them life in prison. Cops should be held to a higher standard than the average person, and should see harsher punishment when they break the law. I hope these two never live peacefully when they get out.
I mean, I’m mostly with you (see my comment above), but automatic life in prison for any abuse of power is too much. For example basically all cops use their state-given position of power to illegally park their personal vehicle wherever they want, which definitely should get them punished by the law, but it definitely shouldn’t be a life sentence.
I’m fine with longer. 20 sounds good.
Plus massive fines, like 5x what they stole, paid to the victims.
Vile garbage.
Imagine someone was stopping a police car with a gun and robbed them. Would he get just two years? And he would not abuse any given power or authority.
FYI: This took place in East Cleveland, a separate city from Cleveland. It’s one of those city’s that you hear about where even the cops tell you not to stop at red lights at night. Except here the cops will then pull you over and rob you.
It’s on of those towns that is so corrupt and so delapitated there is really no hope for it. The city of Cleveland tried to annex it about 8 years ago to help restore it, but the city council put in all these weird stipulations to basically cement their power undemocratically and ensure they got lifetime paychecks to the point that eventually Cleveland had to walk away. This year, the Cleveland Metroparks, one of the best metropark systems in the country, tried to take over ownership of one of East Clevelands main parks to help bring it back from the brink, but again the East Cleveland leadership poisoned the pot so much the Metroparks had to walk too. Both of those things would have helped the residents immensely, but the local government just ruined it.
Double penalties for cops convicted of crimes. Taking on a position of public trust should mean more responsibility, not less.
Never forget: police were originally slave patrol. They are nothing but a gang of goons. ACAB
Two years? Really? That is some bullshit for how egregious this was.
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