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Cleveland Police Officer Acquitted in Fatal Shooting Fired
By: Associated Press
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CLEVELAND (AP) – A Cleveland police officer acquitted of a misdemeanor charge in the 2015 fatal shooting of an unarmed teenager after a store break-in has been fired for violating the department’s use-of-force policy.
City officials say 50-year-old Alan Buford was fired Thursday for using force “greater than necessary during the incident.”
A judge acquitted Buford of negligent homicide in July. Prosecutors say Buford shouldn’t have had his finger on the trigger of his service weapon as he and his partner tried to arrest 18-year-old Brandon Jones after the break-in.
Buford’s partner testified at trial that the shooting wasn’t necessary.
Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President Steve Loomis couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.