The president of the Cleveland Warriors, the local amateur football team made up of police and corrections officers and first responders, appears to have resigned.
That鈥檚 what team president and coach, Bill Sofranko, texted , the former Cleveland police officer who killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014.
Sofranko鈥檚 text said: 鈥淵ou win, I resign now back off for the good of the team. Call off your people.鈥�
He added that Loehmann has also left the team.
Sofranko did not respond to requests for comment, but Knight said he鈥檚 been told many times that Loehmann was leaving the team.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe it,鈥� Knight told ideastream, after getting Sofranko鈥檚 text. 鈥淚 believe this whole organization needs to be disbanded. There doesn鈥檛 need to be a Cleveland Warriors anymore.鈥�
The public controversy over Loehmann鈥檚 presence started the last weekend in January, when players and activists showed up at the team鈥檚 Saturday morning practice in North Royalton.
鈥淚 just want you to know, practice is over with,鈥� Knight said from the sidelines. 鈥淏ecause they鈥檙e harboring a murderer.鈥�
Stories in and the have since highlighted the rebellion among Black players over Loehmann鈥檚 presence.
Players say for at least a year team leadership hid Loehmann鈥檚 identity.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 not a recognizable face, you know?鈥� Knight said. 鈥淓veryone else is called by his last name. Everyone else 鈥� Knight, Sullivan 鈥� but when it comes to Timothy they called him Tim or Timmy.鈥�
But by the end of the 2019 season, the secret was out. Knight said six players were eventually kicked off the team after protesting Loehmann鈥檚 presence.
Knight said he鈥檚 received threats since he began his campaign against the team鈥檚 leadership.
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