Chief of embattled Cleveland police force gets promotion

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The chief of the Cleveland Police Department, which is under investigation for a chase involving more than 100 officers, 137 shots fired and two apparently unarmed people killed, was promoted Monday to safety director. He was replaced by the deputy chief of field operations.

Mayor Frank Jackson administered the oath to Chief Michael McGrath as safety director in charge of police and fire. McGrath replaced Martin Flask, who is retiring as safety director after a police career that began in 1973. He will become a special aide to the mayor.

Jackson praised the work of Flask, who handled disciplinary hearings for officers involved in the chase.

“He has carried this department through some very trying times,” Jackson said. “He has done it professionally, and he’s done it with great fairness and equality to everyone in which he has to deal with.”

The deputy chief of field operations, Calvin Williams, was appointed chief.

The department is under federal investigation for purportedly using excessive force. And a county grand jury is investigating the 13 officers who fired shots during the November 2012 chase.

Mike Tobin, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office, said the federal investigation is ongoing. Spokesman Joe Frolik with the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office had no comment on the grand jury investigation.