Councilman Phil Heimlich, who had called for Shirey's firing months ago for alleged administrative shortcomings, said the riots were not Shirey's fault. Several black activists who addressed the Council on Wednesday said Shirey and police leadership were to blame for problems contributing to the street violence. But prison will make the police respect us. The council also decided Wednesday by a 5-4 vote to commit the city to mediation to try to resolve a lawsuit accusing Cincinnati police of targeting and harassing black citizens. In the suit, the American Civil Liberties Union and black activists accuse the city police of 30 years of harassing black residents on the basis of their race.
Police deny the allegations.