Cleveland pigs are in their feelings because of backlash over local police shootings...

Investigator: Slowdown in proactive police work in Cleveland

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland police admit they feel under siege and are staying in their cars every chance they get.

Some call it the Ferguson or Baltimore effect. Police say they are hesitating before stopping anyone for fear they might get in trouble and not have the support of city hall or the community.

The Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association, CPPA, admitted to the Investigator Tom Meyer that many of their officers are avoiding potentially volatile situations, following a number of high-profile shootings.

They're concerned their actions might be caught on camera and broadcast on YouTube and the 11 o'clock news.

"Everyone wants to go out there and proactively police," said CPPA president Steve Loomis. "They're scared to do it. They're not going to do it."

That's news to Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams who recently proclaimed his department hasn't missed a beat.

"I have all the faith and confidence that my officers are out there day in and day out, night and day, rain or shine, trying to protect the city," Williams said.

FBI director James Comey was in Cleveland recently and said he believes the spike in homicides in some cities is tied to a slowdown in proactive police work.

"Folks in law enforcement have to see the heart of those they've been serving and protecting, and that's done literally by people getting out of their cars and talking to each other," Comey said.

But police in Cleveland say just the opposite is happening here. They say they are still answering radio calls and stopping if they get flagged down by anyone who appears to need help. But they also say they're not willing to stick their necks out if it means undergoing intense scrutiny.

"It's called the Baltimore effect or the Ferguson effect, whatever you want to call it. You're pushing the cops back into their cars. They're not going to get out of their cars and be proactive," Loomis said.

Police shootings in Ferguson and Baltimore led to rioting. In Cleveland, there was the deadly police chase and the fatal shooting of Tamir Rice. Police say they have felt the backlash.

"? forbid if we get into a physical confrontation with somebody. We're not going to have the support of the news media. We're not going have the support of the activists," Loomis said.

Records that Channel 3 News obtained show cops aren't as aggressive as they have been.

Cleveland police arrested nearly 26,000 people last year. Only 19,700 as of mid-October of this year. It's down by more than 6,000. Nearly 31,000 subpoenas were issued last year. There have been less than 23,000 by mid-October this year -- down 8,200.

"Bill," who asked not to be identified, grew up on the streets of Cleveland and is a former member of the Cleveland Guardian Angels. He's familiar with young troublemakers in Cleveland. He says they have noticed a change in police behavior.

"It's like this.They're saying they're not going to get us. We can do this because you don't see them no more and you don't," he said.

Loomis says confrontations and high-speed chases are out, and the bad guys know it.

"It's going to get worse. Trust me when I tell you that," he warned.