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Prayer Vigil Organized By Police Support Group To Be Held Tonight

CPD officers at Labor Day Parade, 2014 - by Brian Bull
CPD officers at Labor Day Parade, 2014 - by Brian Bull

Tonight, a gathering of police supporters and clergy aims to help dispel tension surrounding the Michael Brelo and Tamir Rice cases.

An event that organizers are calling “Prayer for Peace” will be held at Impett Park on Cleveland’s west side.

Steve Loomis is President of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association, and a board member of the Sea of Blue group, which is organizing the gathering.   He says the goal is to unite Clevelanders despite differences of opinion on the two cases…and to help keep peace in the community.

“We don’t want any police officers hurt.  And the last thing on our mind is getting into a physical confrontation with anybody," says Loomis.

"So you have to be very, very, aware of people with outside agendas, that have nothing to do with Tamir Rice or Malissa Williams or anything else that’s going on here in Cleveland.” 

A verdict is expected any day now in the case against Officer Michael Brelo who’s charged with voluntary manslaughter in the 2012 deaths of two unarmed suspects. And a Sheriff’s Department investigation into a rookie’s fatal shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice last fall is also close to wrapping up.