Cincinnati mayor’s office mistakenly honors cop killer

Cincinnati's mayor has apologized to police leaders and the family of a slain Cincinnati police officer after his office issued a proclamation honoring the man who killed the officer in an ambush characterized as a "suicide by cop."

"This was a huge mistake," Mayor John Cranley told our news partner WCPO-TV on Thursday, tears rolling down his face.

Cranley's office explained the gaffe, saying a new employee in his office stamped the proclamation that June 1, 2017 would become "Tre Day" in honor of Trepierre Hummons, who shot and killed Police Officer Sonny Kim.

>>EARLIER: Shot that killed Officer Kim ‘horrible luck’

>>PHOTOS:  Law enforcement gather to pay respects to Kim

Credit: WCPO

Credit: WCPO

The proclamation depicted Hummons as a person whose life "will be a life remembered through the Trepierre Foundation's efforts to impact mental illness in kids and young adults."

Hummons, 21, was killed June 19, 2015, after calling police to report a suspicious, armed individual in his neighborhood. When Kim arrived on scene, police said, Hummons shot him, wrestled his service weapon away and fired at other responding officers before being shot himself.

Hummons and Kim died at University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

>>RELATED: Black sashes honored Officer Kim

Former Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell referred to the incident as "suicide by cop."

WCPO reports that Cranely said Hummons' father submitted the request for a commemorative "Tre Day" and did not mention his child's last name or the incident with Kim when he made the request.

The mayor said the proclamation was granted without his knowledge or approval.

Bobbi Dillon, Cranley's chief of staff, wrote in a retraction letter to Hummons' father that "Mayor Cranley will not issue a proclamation that honors the man who murdered Cincinnati Police Officer Sonny Kim."

Cranley also sent a statement to Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Dan Hils.

"Sonny Kim is a hero and as long as I am Mayor, Cincinnati will not honor in any way the man who murdered him in cold blood," Cranley wrote. “I have personally called Sonny Kim’s wife, Jessica, to apologize for this error.

"I cannot express how deeply sorry I am that this has happened,” Cranley continued.

“Cincinnati has the world’s greatest police officers and police department. I am truly grateful for the work you do and the sacrifices you make every day for this City and I hope we can continue to work together to make Cincinnati a better place for all of us."

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