“He’s a guy who cares about the residents and stakeholders of the Second District,” said Bob Shores, co-chair of the Second District Community Relations Committee. “We will likely go back to the days where the commander stays insulated from the community.

“Sulzer would never walk away from this position unless he was being pressured to do so. I think the mayor, the director of public safety and the chief of police have done him a real dishonor.”

“I believe Sulzer’s resignation stems from a change Chief Williams wants to make within the division of police,” Cummins said. “I don’t think it deals with performance issues.

Sister Corita Ambro, of St. Augustine Church and Hunger Center, said Sulzer treats everyone he comes across as an equal.

“He’s done more for the homeless and the poor in this district than anyone I have ever known,” Ambro said.

”The Division of Police announced Monday that Cmdr. Keith Sulzer would step down from his leadership role and return to the rank of captain effective Wednesday. The move -- which the city declined to justify -- riled Second District residents, garnered opposition from members of city council and sparked an online petition calling for the mayor to stop the change.

On Tuesday, those who support Sulzer shouted a message from the Fulton Road police base:

“Bring Keith home.”

West Side residents lauded Sulzer for his community outreach and approachability.

“He’s a guy who cares about the residents and stakeholders of the Second District,” said Bob Shores, co-chair of the Second District Community Relations Committee. “We will likely go back to the days where the commander stays insulated from the community.”

Sister Corita Ambro, of St. Augustine Church and Hunger Center, said Sulzer treats everyone he comes across as an equal.

“He’s done more for the homeless and the poor in this district than anyone I have ever known,” Ambro said.

Cleveland City Councilmen Kevin Kelley, Joe Cimperman, Brian Cummins and Matt Zone stood in solidarity with their constituents.

“I can tell you the five councilmen who share this district are deeply disappointed in this decision,” Zone said.

Cimperman stressed that Sulzer “is everywhere good is happening in the Second District.”

Some of the commander’s former police colleagues felt the same.

“He’s a prince,” said Jim Traynor, a retired Cleveland police officer. “He was not only responsible for his men and women, he was responsible to his men and women.”

John Thomas, who worked under Sulzer before retiring from the division, explained Sulzer brought empathy to the district.

“This is the kind of man you want as district commander,” he said.

Sulzer did not attend the rally. On Monday, he had little to say about leaving the district.

“All I can tell you is that on Wednesday, I’ll be captain again,” he said disheartened.

Sulzer will move to the division’s Community Policing Unit. Cmdr. Thomas Stacho, who leads the division’s Communications and Property Unit, will replace Sulzer as Second District commander.

Police Chief Calvin Williams refuses to provide the public with an explanation for the shift. After Tuesday’s rally, Williams issued a press release reiterating Sulzer’s resignation was voluntary.

“Chief Williams would like to commend Capt. Sulzer on his dedication to the Second District community,” the release said. “[Sulzer] will build upon the strong community relationships he developed in the Second District, and now expand those efforts to all city neighborhoods.”

Councilman Cummins said he sat down with Williams Tuesday to talk about the changes in leadership.“I believe "Sulzer’s resignation stems from a change Chief Williams wants to make within the division of police,” Cummins said. “I don’t think it deals with performance issues.

“Sulzer would never walk away from this position unless he was being pressured to do so. I think the mayor, the director of public safety and the chief of police have done him a real dishonor.”

Roger Scheve, the Ohio City resident who launched the MoveOn.org petition to keep Sulzer in command of the Second District, echoed the councilman.

“A man with his accolades does not just say one day that he’s going to step down,” Scheve said. “This is a wrong decision. This needs to become an April Fools joke.”

The MoveOn.org petition, which began Monday afternoon, had more than 1,100 signatures Tuesday night.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/03/cleveland_residents_cit...