BY LAURA GOLDBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sgt. John Sess

The Cincinnati Police Division suspended Sgt. John Sess without pay Monday over his admission last month that he planted evidence in a drug case.

Sgt. Sess, a Cincinnati police officer since 1973, faces a hearing Saturday before Safety Director Kent Ryan, who will make a recommendation to City Manager John Shirey on disciplinary action. That could include firing.

Sgt. Sess is facing administrative charges of neglect of duty, failure of good behavior and violating the division's code of ethics. His annual salary is $47,255.

Mr. Shirey told city council in a memo dated Friday that late last month, Sgt. Sess admitted that "he personally planted false evidence in the pocket of a drug suspect in 1984."

The admission, Mr. Shirey said, came before a polygraph test and was made when Sgt. Sess was asked by police investigators if he had ever done anything improper as a police officer. Sgt. Sess was being considered for a move to the Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit.

Sgt. Sess could not be reached for comment Monday.

The administrative charges stem from two matters, police said. According to police:

During 1984, Sgt. Sess, then assigned to District 1, found a "baggie" of marijuana on the back seat of his police car when inspecting it. He did not properly process "this contraband." Later that day, he put the bag "in the wrist band or in the pants pocket of a prisoner." Another officer found the bag while searching the prisoner.

Sgt. Sess admitted to smoking a marijuana cigarette while on a fishing outing in 1979 or 1980.

Also Monday, Mr. Ryan told council's Law Committee he bears responsibility for the time Sgt. Sess remained on the street instead of being assigned to desk duty.

Mr. Ryan said was surprised to learn Thursday night from The Enquirer that Sgt. Sess was on active duty. Sgt. Sess was assigned to desk duty Friday.

Mr. Ryan said Sgt. Sess had worked three or four days on the street since the admission. He said Sgt. Sess also had taken some vacation days since then.

Mr. Ryan called it an oversight on his part that he didn't check out the situation.

He said a new administrative policy will be put into place so that in similar situations officers are removed immediately from the street.

Vice Mayor Tyrone Yates, Law Committee chairman, said if the charges against Sgt. Sess are substantiated, the conduct "is a clear dismissable offense."

At Mr. Yates' suggestion, Deputy City Solicitor Bob Johnstone said the law department would review the case involving the planted drug. Mr. Shirey also said in the memo a police investigation of that case is continuing.

Police Chief Michael Snowden has said Sgt. Sess told investigators he put the marijuana in the pocket of a drug suspect who had thrown away narcotics during a foot chase.

The suspect eventually pleaded guilty to a charge based on the marijuana he threw away, which police found, not the planted bag in his pocket, police officials have said.

When asked if officials were reviewing other cases involving Sgt. Sess, Mr. Ryan said: "We are looking at his involvement in cases."