Their arrests are connected to a wider investigation into the East Cleveland Police Department for corruption.

Two former East Cleveland, Ohio, police officers were sentenced this week for stealing thousands of dollars from people they pulled over during traffic stops.

A judge ordered Willie Sims, 32, to two years in prison Thursday. His partner, Alfonzo Cole, 35, was sentenced Monday to 2 1/2 years in prison and was fined $40,000, court records show.

In total, Sims and Cole stole $14,781 from six victims between July 2020 and July 2021 while on duty, prosecutors said. Cole also swiped two firearms from the victims, the Cuyahoga County Office of the Prosecutor said in a news release.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Russo told Sims that his actions have “disgraced” hard-working officers.

  • sugarfree@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Two years in prison is not enough for this, I think a sentence of around 10 years would be more suitable.

    • LanternEverywhere@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Committing a crime while you’re in a government-given position of power should be a mandatory minimum of whatever the median sentence is for that crime, plus a 20% addition.

      • Kbobabob@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It should definitely come with extra penalties if you’re the one that’s supposed to uphold the law.

        • itwasawednesday@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Yeah, I feel like all applications to be an officer of the law should come with the weight of “do I have the depth of character to fulfil this role” and the consequences of it clearly in front of them in making that decision.

    • starman2112@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Abusing the power granted to them by the state to commit crimes under the guise of law enforcement should earn them life in prison. Cops should be held to a higher standard than the average person, and should see harsher punishment when they break the law. I hope these two never live peacefully when they get out.

      • LanternEverywhere@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        I mean, I’m mostly with you (see my comment above), but automatic life in prison for any abuse of power is too much. For example basically all cops use their state-given position of power to illegally park their personal vehicle wherever they want, which definitely should get them punished by the law, but it definitely shouldn’t be a life sentence.

    • wulrus@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Imagine someone was stopping a police car with a gun and robbed them. Would he get just two years? And he would not abuse any given power or authority.