by Vincent Muhammad

CINCINNATI (FinalCall.com)�Not guilty was the verdict handed down by Judge Ralph E. Winkler, exonerating Officer Steven Roach of wrongdoing in the shooting death of unarmed Black teen Timothy Thomas.

But with Blacks still angry, a primary election for city offices coming Nov. 7 and the case of another officer accused in the death of a Black man yet to come, the city�s trials aren�t over.

Rev. Damon Lynch, whose church sits in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood where the tragic shooting happened, wasn�t surprised by the Sept. 26 verdict.

"We�ve just taken 10 steps backward to that measure of rebuilding Cincinnati," said Rev. Lynch. "I�m just totally fed up. All this talk of healing and all that, it�s rhetoric. There is no serious effort to heal. This community proves it day in and day out."

Upset by his criticism, some white council members want Rev. Lynch put off the CAN (Cincinnati Action Now) commission created by the mayor following April�s unrest and riots that rocked the city after the Thomas shooting.

Mayor Charlie Luken, fearing a repeat of riots, ordered a state of emergency and curfew the night of the verdict�after reports of garbage fires and bottle throwing in Over-the-Rhine. The curfew lasted two nights with relative calm.

"The not guilty verdict sent the message again to our community that the lives of African American males are not valued. Our redress has to be under civil statute, that�s where the (victim�s) family is going," said Norma Holt Davis, president of the local NAACP chapter. The victim�s mother is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Officer Roach.

Ms. Davis shared plans for community forums to educate voters and mobilize residents to play a greater part in deciding what happens in the city. There has be a greater understanding of the political and court process to effect change, she said.

Some activists want to oust Mayor Luken, saying he is insensitive to Black residents.

"We will be marshaling our forces together to make sure every eligible person in Cincinnati is at the polls to vote, and also start the process of removing people from office who don�t represent our interest," said Ms. Davis.

Min. James Muhammad, local representative of the Nation of Islam, said the judge seemed to try the victim more than the accused officer.

"No one in the Black community was really surprised about the verdict because even in the indictment was just misdemeanor charges for taking someone�s life. It was interesting that Judge Winkler, as he was giving his verdict of the trial, never addressed Officer Roach�s misdeeds. But focused on everything that the young brother Timothy Thomas did. And so his whole decision is based on Timothy Thomas, not on the officer on trial," said Min. Muhammad.

Mr. Thomas was the 15th Black man shot by city police since 1995. Officer Roach was charged with negligent homicide and obstructing official business. He faced a maximum of nine months in prison, if convicted.

Judge Winkler, who heard the case when the accused opted out of a jury trial, said, "Police Officer Roach�s history was unblemished until this incident. Timothy Thomas�s history was not unblemished." The teen was wanted on several misdemeanor charges when he ran and was confronted in a dark alley by Officer Roach.

Blacks were upset by conflicting stories Mr. Roach told investigators, once saying he fired in fear of his life and later saying his gun just went off. Officer Roach also lied on his employment application, saying he was Black.

Emotions are sure to run high as the case of Roger Owensby, a 29-year-old Black man who died at the hands of the police November 7, 2000, comes to trial.

According to police, Mr. Owensby was arrested coming out of a convenience store and apparently fit the description of someone sought by police. Police officials say he attempted to run away, was tackled, sprayed with a chemical irritant and handcuffed. The mystery is how did he die during a patrol car ride to a police station. The trial, which was scheduled to begin months ago, was postponed until the end of October.