CLEVELAND — Body camera footage of an exchange of expletives between Cleveland Police officers and Pawnee County Sheriff Shawn Price, released last week, prompted the City of Cleveland to revoke the crossdeputization agreement with the sheriff’s office.
Within 15-seconds of the footage beginning Price can be heard asking “Who’s running this f…ing show?” Followed by demanding the Cleveland officer that responded to come to him. The Cleveland officer responded with a succinct “F… you.”
On Oct. 28, as dated on the footage, Cleveland officers had gathered to serve a search warrant in Pawnee County. An opportunity they were granted due to a crossdeputization agreement that was in place at the time. An agreement city officials saw fit to revoke, according to a statement released by city leadership, as a result of the incident that occurred.
Before the operation could commence, Price showed up at the department visibly agitated, shouting that he did not know the warrant was being served. A Cleveland officer responded by claiming the sheriff’s office was notified. Price then said that the notification should have been verified.
During the heated confrontation, Price said he had received notice only 15-minutes prior — a claim he reiterated in his later statement — “Our office was not informed until 15 minutes before this warrant was to be served. Their lack of professional courtesy did not allow for proper review of the circumstances or ability to have officers available to assist.”
However, a statement from the Cleveland Police Department, released by City Manager Mike Vaughan, contradicts Price’s statement bysaying,“Twoweekspriortoservingasearch warrant in Pawnee County, Chief (Clint) Stout of the Cleveland Police Department contacted the Pawnee County Sheriff to discuss the location and to determine whether their office was working any related matters. The Sheriff’s Office indicated they were not, and Cleveland officers proceeded to secure a search warrant, which was subsequently signed by a judge roughly two weeks later.” Adding that a Pawnee County Deputy was “in route to the briefing after being notified the night before of the warrant.”
During the October interaction, Price had expressed concern about who would be responsible if the operation had gone wrong. A statement made by Price following the incident revealed a separate operation had been discontinued due to interference from the Cleveland Police Department.
“This incident is not the first time our office has been disrespected in this manner. Recently, officers from this same department were informed of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. Their interference caused this investigation to be discontinued,” said Price.
Price went on to say that he expected “the same respect and courtesy that I require from our office when operating in another department’s area of responsibility” and that, “When another local department plans to serve a search warrant outside of their jurisdiction in the county, it’s only reasonable to expect that they would provide ample notice and information leading up to the event.”
After nearly three-minutes of intense discussion during the October incident, the Cleveland officer who said he was in charge of the operation notified the other officers present that they would not be moving forward stating a cancellation message was going out and adding, “I guess I’ll let our victims know that this isn’t going to happen either.”
As volume tapered down Price questioned how long “everybody else” knew about the operation. The answer given was the warrant had been signed a day earlier and that Stout had been notified when the investigation for the case began. Price then claimed he spoke with Stout on his way to the department station. “He (Stout) said ‘I just found out about it too’.”
Another officer interjected to say that Stout knew about the operation two weeks ago adding that, “every other search warrant that we’ve done, we’ve done it this way where we let our chief know and then he lets you.”
In his later statement, Price defended his actions saying, “As the elected sheriff of Pawnee County, it is not only my job to ensure that the law is enforced but also that the rights of the citizens of this county are not being violated. . . I regret that the lack of supervision within this department has created a situation that I felt needed to be addressed.”
The statement from the city revealed that the crossdeputization agreement revocation is anticipated to be temporary saying “The Cleveland Police Department is committed to reaching a new agreement with the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office in the future to ensure the continued safety of all the citizens of Pawnee County.
“We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and professionalism in all interactions with partner agencies and the public. While differences may arise, our focus will continue to be on serving the community with integrity and respect.”
In his statement, Price disclosed that he had since spoken with Stout regarding the incident.
“This event occurred over a month ago. Chief Stout and I have since met and discussed this matter. Although we were not able to see this situation in the same light, we did agree that our personal differences should not be allowed to affect the officers working in the field together. To my knowledge it has not been an issue,” said Price.
Statement from Pawnee County Sheriff
“As the elected sheriff of Pawnee County, it is not only my job to ensure that the law is enforced but also that the rights of the citizens of this county are not being violated. When another local department plans to serve a search warrant outside of their jurisdiction in the county, it’s only reasonable to expect that they would provide ample notice and information leading up to the event.
Our office was not informed until 15 minutes before this warrant was to be served.Their lack of professional courtesy did not allow for proper review of the circumstances or ability to have officers available to assist.I only expect the same respect and courtesy that I require from our office when operating in another department’s area of responsibility.
This incident is not the first time our office has been disrespected in this manner. Recently, officers from this same department were informed of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. Their interference caused this investigation to be discontinued.I regret that the lack of supervision within this department has created a situation that I felt needed to be addressed.
This event occurred over a month ago.Chief Stout and I have since met and discussed this matter. Although we were not able to see this situation in the same light, we did agree that our personal differences should not be allowed to affect the officers working in the field together.To my knowledge it has not been an issue.Since this incident, our office has hired more staff.Currently we have two officers available 24/7 regularly for public calls of assistance and will continue to assist any other agency when requested.”
PAWNEE COUNTY SHERIFF SHAWN PRICE
Statement from the Cleveland Police Department
The City of Cleveland, wishes to provide clarity regardingarecentinteraction between Cleveland police officers and the Sheriff of Pawnee County.
Two weeks prior to serving a search warrant in Pawnee County, Chief Stout of the Cleveland Police Department contacted the Pawnee County Sheriff to discuss the location and to determine whether their office was working any related matters. The Sheriff’s Office indicated they were not, and Cleveland officers proceeded to secure a search warrant, which was subsequently signed by a judge roughly two weeks later.
On 28 Oct 25 the day of the warrant service, Cleveland Police held a briefing at the station. A Pawnee County Deputy was in route to the briefing after being notified the night before of the warrant. Shortly after the briefing, the Sheriff arrived at the station and questioned why the search warrant was proceeding without his knowledge.
As a result of the above incident the Cleveland Police Department has exercised its right to revoke it cross deputation agreement. The Cleveland Police Department is committed to reaching a new agreement with the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office in the future to ensure the continued safety of all the citizens of Pawnee County.
We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and professionalism in all interactions with partner agencies and the public. While differences may arise, our focus will continue to be on serving the community with integrity and respect.
MIKE VAUGHAN CITY MANAGER OF CLEVELAND