September 19th 2023.
Two former East Cleveland police officers, Willie Warner-Sims and Alfonzo Cole, have been handed down a two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to four counts of robbery and one count of theft in office.
The two officers had taken advantage of six civilians between July 2020 and July 2021, stealing over $14,000 in total. This included a heartbreaking case of a 21-year-old man who had the money pocketed intended to cover funeral services for his recently deceased mother. After the complaint was filed with the East Cleveland Police Department, Sims and Cole were apprehended the next day.
An investigation was launched into the officers and it was found that they had been involved in several similar robberies and forgeries of higher-ranking law enforcement officials. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Russo expressed his disappointment and criticism towards the pair, saying that their actions had shaken the public's confidence in the criminal justice system.
The investigation extended to the East Cleveland Police Department and uncovered a larger law enforcement problem in the area, with corruption, fraud, money laundering, and records-tampering reaching up the chain of command to Police Chief Scott Gardner. Judge Russo stated that this type of crime was far worse than your average burglar, robber, or criminal.
In addition to the two years' sentence, Cole was also ordered to pay a $40,000 fine. This case serves as a reminder that while the public should trust emergency services like police officers, firefighters, and EMTs, it is important to be aware that there are still individuals who betray the system and take advantage of their positions.
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