Police officer reinstated to job

A year after his firing, former police officer at center of violent arrest getting his job back

A Euclid police officer has gotten his job back after being fired by the mayor in the aftermath of an incident where he was captured on video punching a black motorist multiple times during a traffic stop.

Officer Michael Amiott will be back with the police department after arbitrator Gregory P. Szuter found that Euclid Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail did not have just cause to fire him.

Szuter found cause for a 15day suspension and ruled that Amiott be reinstated to his job as an officer.

“We appreciate the Mayor’s respect for the process and taking this, with the union, through the binding arbitration process with a neutral arbitrator,” Euclid FOP President Dave Trend said in a statement. “We expect that Officer Amiott will do his best to serve the community upon his return.”

Gail said in a statement she is disappointed by the decision, but respects the process and accepts the ruling.

She said that Amiott will be assigned to the division determined by the police chief within the next two weeks. He will be placed with a field training officer who will mentor, monitor and document his performance for 60 days. He is required to take 80 hours of training related to force options and human relations. This must be completed in 12 months. He is not allowed to take side jobs until training is complete. He is also removed from the EDGE tactical team.

“Policing has to be effective and perceived to be effective by all members of the community,” she said. “Our goal remains to continuously upgrade and improve the Euclid Police Department. Since Patrolman Amiott’s termination in October 2017, the EPD implemented new programs such as the use of force review committee; enhanced training

in areas such as community relations, de-escalation techniques, procedural justice, implicit bias; and increased proactive community engagement efforts.”

On Aug. 12, 2017, Amiott pulled over Richard Hubbard III for an alleged traffic violation. Less than three minutes into the stop, Hubbard was on the ground getting punched by Amiott.

A witness recorded part of the incident on a cell phone. The video was posted on social media and was viewed millions of times within the following days. The Euclid Police Department released dash cam footage a few days after the incident.

Amiott pulled Hubbard over in violation of what a commanding officer had instructed him to do.

“You were in attendance at a roll call that I had earlier addressed, in which I specifically said to all officers in attendance that although legally permissible, I did not want officers stopping cars for stop bar violations

She said that Amiott will be assigned to the division determined by the police chief within the next two weeks. He will be placed with a field training officer who will mentor, monitor and document his performance for 60 days. He is required to take 80 hours of training related to force options and human relations. This must be completed in 12 months. He is not allowed to take side jobs until training is complete. He is also removed from the EDGE tactical team.

as the primary probable cause for a traffic stop,” Capt. Kevin Kelly wrote in an Aug. 16, 2017, letter to Amiott.

Kelly charged Amiott with violation of rules, unbecoming conduct, unsatisfactory performance, insubordination and use of force.

“These actions have caused serious damage to the public confidence in the Euclid Police Department and the city of Euclid,” Kelly wrote to Amiott.

On Aug. 18, 2017, Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer found Amiott guilty of violation of rules, unbecoming conduct, unsatisfactory performance and insubordination. Meyer noted in a letter to Amiott that he merged use of force into unbecoming conduct and unsatisfactory performance.

Gail suspend him for an additional 30 days, which she did Sept. 1. She fired Amiott Oct. 13.

Gail said in an a news release that during Amiott’s suspension for various rule violations, her office received further complaints regarding his professional conduct. Amiott joined the Euclid police department five months after he resigned rather than be fired from the Mentor Police Department for lying about why he stopped a man for a suspended license violation.

Charges against Hubbard were dismissed in November 2017. He has since filed a lawsuit against the city and officers involved including Amiott. That case is currently going through the U.S. District Court’s Northern District of Ohio. Hubbard and his girlfriend Yolimar Tirado (who also had charges dropped in relation

to the incident) are seeking $3.8 millions n compensatory damage for the violation of their rights among other relief, according to the lawsuit.

Amiott had a history of use of force complaints. He was reprimanded in 2016 after hitting a suspect with his gun. A Euclid lieutenant wrote in the written reprimand there were “several performance issues that came to light regarding tactical, safety and conduct.”

The Hubbard lawsuit wasn’t the only one filed against the city involving Amiott. Erimius Spencer filed a lawsuit after he was seriously injured by two off-duty police officers who were moonlighting as security guards in his apartment building. In the suit, Spencer said that Amiott kicked him in the face during an arrest, fracturing his orbital bone.

Spencer and the defendants settled the case last month for $40,000. The city and the officers named in the suit, including Amiott, admitted no liability.