The Cleveland Police Patrolmen Association is taking a stand. Channel 3 News confirmed that the organization filed an appeal to overturn the firing of Timothy Loehman,Friday.
Loehmann, a former Cleveland police officer, is responsible for the shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice outside of Cudell Recreation Center in November 2014.
Rice's death made national headlines, sparking protests both locally and across the nation.
Loehmann was fired from the force in May 2017 after the city determined he neglected to disclose important information on his 2013 application, not for Rice's death.
In December, an arbitrator ruled that Loehmann would not get his job back. At the time of the decision, CPPA President Jeff Follmer vowed to continue fighting the ruling.
RELATED: Police union to appeal ruling keeping ex-Cleveland officer Timothy Loehmann from department
Follmer kept his word with the filing of the appeal Friday and released the following statement to Channel 3 News Sunday.
"Officer Loehmann has been treated unfairly by the city and the arbitration procedure. We are hoping whatever county judge receives this appeal will go on the merits of facts and not political pressure."
WKYC reached out to Subodh Chandra, lawyer for the Rice family following the appeal.
“It is most unfortunate that the CPPA continues to insist its okay for a law enforcement officer to lie on his employment application that is to continue to embrace lawlessness in law enforcing," said Chandra. He continued, " Until the CPPA comprehends its officers are not above the law. None of us are safe. And Tamir he never stood a chance when there is a police culture like that.”
Following the filing of the appeal of the arbitrators ruling Friday, the city of Cleveland will have the opportunity to respond. The Union is expected to file a briefing to support the appeal in the coming weeks.
This is a developing story. Stay with WKYC for updates as they become available.