In the streets of Cincinnati last week, the citizens took to the streets demanding justice from a system they felt was unfair.

They felt that a person who took the life of another was given relatively easy treatment for his act. If the crowd had its way, they would have strung the alleged murderer up themselves from the highest tree or lamppost. In the absence of that solution they vented their anger in the streets.

They tore up stores, they threatened bystanders, as well as police. This went on for three days. Fifty-four people died and more than 200 were injured.

They may sound like the recent events of the past few weeks, but it was actually in 1884 over 116 years ago and the people rioting were predominantly white.

It actually was one of several major civil uprisings to take place in that one city in the course of a century. There were other riots, actually dubbed "pro-slavery" riots, in the 1830’s by citizens who felt some sympathy with the ways of the south. Signs actually garnished fence posts that warned people who fought to eliminate slavery (abolitionists) to basically stay out of town after dark.

It appears that Cincinnati hasn’t learned its lesson as a metropolitan city.

It could be through ignorance or it could be by choice. But the conservative city lawmakers are once again dealing with the results of their shortsighted administration of police policy.

We feel the pain of our brethren in Ohio, especially in light of knowing what the end of the story will likely be. Even though 19-year-old Timothy Thomas is dead — shot while unarmed by a white police officer — it is all likely that no one will pay for this tragedy directly.

There was a painful reminder of that here, this week, in the middle of all that was going on in "Cincy."

We learned, the police officer among those that set off the chain of gunfire that led to the death of Amadou Diallo, was in fact changing careers. Ed McMellon, who also was acquitted in Diallo’s death, scored high on the firefighter’s test and could be training with New York’s Bravest by the summer.

I have to say that despite understanding the rage that lies in our betrayed souls, one of the proudest moments I can remember as an African American New Yorker, was in the aftermath of the Diallo acquittals, as well as the acquittal of a Bronx cop who choked a man to death. The people, although angry, stayed calm.

I could never understand what good would be served by tearing up our own neighborhoods, burning down our own stores, and hurting our own people, just because we’re mad at the system and people that are part of it outside of our communities.

But does that mean Southeast Queens, East New York, or Harlem might not become a downtown Cincinnati? I think we know the answer to that. It may very well have happened if Diallo were a teenager.

Another announcement this week also underscores an element of the problem this city has with police-community relations.

That is the lack of cops who look and sound like us. In my opinion it is true that for almost the entire existence of the NYPD, blacks and Latinos have not been given the full opportunity to join and thrive in the agency. However, with the opportunity now presenting itself to rectify the numbers disparity, many are choosing not to step forward to fill those empty slots.

Those slots could mean the difference between a decision to stop or not stop someone, to arrest or not arrest, to shoot or not to shoot.

Hey, I know of at least one spot available and to be honest I’d prefer Ed McMellon in a firefighter uniform as opposed to carrying a gun again. That would be his right, since he was cleared of criminal and administrative charges.

Despite all the political rhetoric, be glad he’s gone and not in a position for us to hear about him again.

In the meantime, with the city in the flux of an impending change in leadership, those who would be heirs to City Hall should take notice of what not to do regarding the tactical, and social training of its police force.

Yes, they have Cincinnati and other cities as examples, but they need not book any flights in order to read the warning label.