CLEVELAND — Brian Gerhard was sworn in as East Cleveland’s Chief of Police by Mayor Brandon King on Friday.

What You Need To Know

  • Over the last few months, East Cleveland has been making headlines for various controversies ranging from calls to recall the mayor to criminal charges against the police chief and eight other current and former officers

  • New indictments came out just this week

  • Brian Gerhard was sworn in as chief of police on Friday and is now taking the helm of the troubled department

Gerhard has been part of the department for 27 years.

“The No. 1 focus of the King Administration is safety for residents and visitors. Building a credible police force is paramount to an effective department. It is my mission to clean up the police department officer by officer; and, upon the identification of compromised officers within the police department, to remove them from active duty immediately as well as assist in the prosecution," King wrote in a statement on Oct. 4. "In pursuit of that goal, Acting Chief Brian Gerhard will be sworn in as Chief of the East Cleveland Police Department on Friday, October 7th at City Hall. Acting Chief Gerhard has an impeccable record within the department with roots in the city from childhood. He has been cooperating with the County Prosecutor’s Office to ensure that the East Cleveland Police Department is purged of all bad officers and to restore confidence in the police department.”

This change in leadership comes as the former chief, Scott Gardner, faces 13 charges including aggravated theft, telecommunications fraud, collecting and failing to remit, tampering with records, theft in office, grand theft and passing bad checks.

This isn’t Gardner's first time being on the other side of the law. Prior to becoming chief, Gardner was indicted on tax charges when he was an East Cleveland Police detective. In 2013, he was indicted on felony charges in Medina County, and in 2014, he was charged with three felonies and three misdemeanors in Cuyahoga County.

Right now, eight other current and former East Cleveland police officers are facing charges.

 

According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Officer Kyle Wood, Officer Tyler Mundson, Officer Brian Stoll and Officer Daniel Toomer are accused of ramming into vehicles and assaulting the drivers while arresting them in March and April of this year. Two other officers, Alfonzo Cole and Willie Warner-Sims are alleged to have stolen money, drugs, and firearms from multiple people while on duty from July 2020 to July 2021. In the summer of 2018, two former East Cleveland police officers, Von Harris and Demarkco Johnson, are accused of falsifying police reports and accepting bribes.

Below is a list of each officer's charges.

Kyle Wood was indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Theft In Office
  • One count of Tampering With Evidence
  • One count of Assault
  • Two counts of Interfering With Civil Rights
  • Two counts of Dereliction Of Duty
  • One count of Felonious Assault
  • One count of Obstructing Justice
  • Two counts of Telecommunications Fraud

Tyler Mundson was indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Theft In Office
  • Two counts of Tampering With Evidence
  • One count of Assault
  • Two counts of Interfering With Civil Rights
  • Two counts of Dereliction Of Duty
  • One count of Obstructing Justice

Brian Stoll was indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Theft In Office
  • One count of Tampering With Evidence
  • Two counts of Assault
  • Two counts of Interfering With Civil Rights
  • Two counts of Dereliction Of Duty
  • One count of Felonious Assault
  • One count of Obstructing Justice

Daniel Toomer was indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Theft In Office
  • One count of Tampering With Evidence
  • One count of Assault
  • One count of Interfering With Civil Rights
  • One count of Dereliction Of Duty
  • One count of Obstructing Justice
  • One count of Tampering Records
  • One count of Disrupting Public Service

Alfonzo Cole was indicted on the following charges:

  • Four counts of Aggravated Robbery
  • Two counts of Grand Theft
  • Three counts of Theft
  • One count of Petty Theft
  • Four counts of Theft In Office
  • One count of Tampering With Records

Willie Sims was indicted on the following charges:

  • Four counts of Aggravated Robbery
  • Five counts of Theft
  • Four counts of Theft In Office

Von Harris and Demarkco Johnson were indicted on the following charges:

  • Three counts of Bribery
  • Four counts of Tampering With Records
  • One count of Insurance Fraud

All of these indictments have come out in the last two months as King faces a recall election coming up Nov. 8.

Gerhard said he plans to lead his department with transparency.

“We just have to bring discipline back. That's what the problem was. We got a lot of young officers. They came here with good intention. They just lost their way for a better lack of words. And this department is not bad," said Gerhard.

The FBI has a hotline set up to collect information regarding any public corruption or civil rights violations happening in the city of East Cleveland. The community is urged to call 216-583-5343 with any information.