by Lisa Cornwell, Associated Press
EVENDALE, Ohio (AP) - He was living his dream of being a police officer when he shot and killed an unarmed black man in a dark alley, sparking the worst racial unrest Cincinnati had seen in decades.
Officer Stephen Roach was acquitted of all charges in the April shooting and then was assigned to Cincinnati’s impound lot. Last month he began work as a suburban police officer 15 miles away.
But what happened in that alley hasn’t been forgotten. Roach’s hiring has drawn opposition in this bedroom community where 266 of the village’s 3,090 residents are black.
Roach, 27, has said little publicly since joining Evendale’s 20-officer force, only saying on his first day that he felt “fine.” He has an unlisted telephone number and did not return messages left at the police department.
“He would like to have some anonymity and move on with his life and prove that he can be as good a public servant for Evendale as he was for the city of Cincinnati,” said Roach’s attorney, Merlyn Shiverdecker.
Achieving anonymity, however, may prove difficult - if not impossible.
“The decision to hire him already has deeply divided this community, and it’s only going to get worse,” said Dr. Randy Cox, who is trying to overturn Roach’s hiring. “His hiring and the way it was done show a lack of sensitivity, especially to African-Americans.”
But Roach, who is white, also has his supporters in this village where crime is mostly confined to traffic-related problems and property offenses, including theft.
“On his first day, he received flowers, cookies and candy, and one citizen had a helicopter fly over to welcome him,” said Police Chief Gary Foust.
Timothy Thomas, 19, was wanted on traffic violations and was fleeing police when he was killed by Roach. The officer testified that he thought Thomas was armed and said he didn’t respond to orders to show his hands.
Three nights of rioting followed Thomas’ shooting. Dozens of people were injured and more than 800 were arrested in the worst racial violence since the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“What went on in that alley was a nightmare for everybody,” Roach said shortly after his trial.
Opponents - black and white - maintain Roach should not have been hired in Evendale while a federal lawsuit and a Cincinnati police internal investigation are pending.
Protests preceded Roach’s first day. Demonstrators marched and chanted, “No Roach in Evendale!” One protester sprayed a picture of Roach with water from a plastic bottle labeled “Roach Spray” and stomped on it as the crowd roared its approval.
Opponents also have collected 216 signatures - more than the required 155 - seeking a November referendum on the hiring. Roach was chosen from 31 applicants and hired by the village council.
“We still believe he was the best candidate,” said Mayor Doug Lohmeier.
He believes the objections eventually will be resolved, but some residents disagree.
“It’s hard to imagine that someone who has become a lightning rod for much broader social issues in the area and across the country could possibly be the best choice for our community,” said Michael Schwartzman, 48.