Video: 12 Supervisors Disciplined for Ohio Pursuit
Twelve Cleveland police supervisors were fired, demoted, or suspended for failing to control a pursuit that involved more than a third of the agency's officers and led to the deaths of two unarmed suspects.
Twelve Cleveland police supervisors were fired, demoted, or suspended for failing to control a pursuit that involved more than a third of the agency's officers and led to the deaths of two unarmed suspects.
One sergeant was fired, two other supervisors were demoted, and nine were disciplined for their roles in the Nov. 29 chase and shooting. Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath, Mayor Frank Jackson and other city leaders announced the disciplinary measures at a Tuesday press conference.
Sgt. Michael Donegan was fired because of "the gravity of your failure to execute your responsibilities as a sergeant of police for the city of Cleveland," said City Safety Director Martin Flask.
Two other supervisors were demoted and nine face suspensions of up to 30 days. The supervisors include Capt. Ulrich Zouhar, Lt. Paul Wilson, Sgt. Mathew Putnam, Sgt. Patricia Coleman, Sgt. Randolph Daley, Sgt. Jason Edens, Sgt. Brian Chetnick, Sgt. Brian Lockwood, Sgt. Mark Bickerstaff, Sgt. Matthew Gallagher and Sgt. Richard Martinez, reports the Plain Dealer .
Chief McGrath will now review the roles of the 104 patrol officers involved in the chase of the 276 patrol officers on duty at the time.
The chase of Timothy Russell and his passenger, Malissa Williams, began downtown after officers reported someone had fired a gun from Russell's 1979 Chevrolet Malibu SS. It ended about 30 minutes later in an East Cleveland middle school parking lot, when 13 officers fired 137 rounds at the Malibu, killing both suspects.
More Training
How One Police Department Cut Crime by 46% with Smarter Patrol Management
Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.
Read More →
When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with a yellow headline that reads When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Read More →
Is Your Duty Holster Duty Rated?
The first – and worst – time I had to fight to keep my gun, my holster and duty belt held up far better than my training did.
Read More →
Beyond the Plate: Real-Time Video Intelligence for Police Operations
Join us for an inside look at how agencies are enhancing frontline decision-making with visual intelligence that goes beyond the plate. This session will show how pairing LPR data with live camera feeds delivers faster, safer, and more coordinated responses—on everything from stolen vehicles to active BOLOs.
Read More →
Coffee Break with Police Experts: Using Your Patrol Vehicle for Cover
In this video, hear from Dustin Mowery, a product specialist at Team Wendy, as he discusses how to best use a patrol vehicle for cover.
Read More →
Ebook: How Data-Driven Policing Strengthens Transparency and Public Trust
Whether your department is focused on improving transparency or rebuilding community confidence, this ebook offers real examples and practical strategies to help. Learn how data-driven insights and modern fleet technologies can strengthen accountability, support officer safety, and enhance public trust.
Read More →
Using Patrol Vehicles for Cover
While a patrol vehicle offers some cover protection when taking fire, remain mobile and don’t stick to one piece of cover indefinitely. Dustin Mowery, of Team Wendy, shares what he teaches about using vehicles as cover.
Read More →
San Francisco Police Recruit Dies in Training
Recruit Officer Jon-Marques Psalms, 30, reportedly suffered a medical emergency after completing a training exercise on Wednesday August 20, 2025, at the Academy.
Read More →POLICE and Flock Safety Present Webinar on Combining LPR with Real-Time Video
The webinar titled “Beyond the Plate: Real-Time Video Intelligence for Police Operations” will show how pairing LPR data with live camera feeds delivers faster, safer, and more coordinated responses on everything from stolen vehicles to active BOLOs.
Read More →