BY CAMERON McWHIRTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sgt. John Sess

Cincinnati Safety Director Kent Ryan held a closed-door hearing Saturday morning with Sgt. John Sess, the suspended police officer facing numerous administrative charges for apparently admitting that he planted evidence on a drug suspect 13 years ago.

After the 50-minute meeting at City Hall, police spokesman Lt. Tim Schoch said Mr. Ryan expected to make a recommendation "within a week" on any disciplinary measures - including possible firing - to City Manager John Shirey.

The Cincinnati Police Division suspended Sgt. Sess Monday over his admission last month that he planted evidence in a drug case.

Sgt. Sess, flanked by family members, his lawyer and Fraternal Order of Police President Pete Ridder, said nothing as he walked to Room 115 for Saturday's hearing. Mr. Ryan had several police officials, including detectives from the Internal Investigations Section, at the hearing to present evidence.

Sgt. Sess, a Cincinnati Police officer since 1973, made his surprising admission before a polygraph test last month while he was being interviewed for a possible transfer to the Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit.

Sgt. Sess is facing administrative charges of neglect of duty, failure of good behavior and violating the division's code of ethics. The administrative charges stem from two matters, police said. During 1984, Sgt. Sess found a "baggie" of marijuana on the back seat of his police car when inspecting it. He did not properly process the bag. Later that day, he put it on a prisoner and another officer found the bag during a search.

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

After the hearing, Lt. Schoch said there was no finding made at the hearing, just a recitation of the facts by investigators and a response by Sgt. Sess.

Asked how this case reflects on the reputation of the department, Lt. Schoch said, "Like many large organizations, we have our problems." Outside City Hall, FOP President Ridder said the case was "not pleasant," but he stressed that Sgt. Sess had confessed to planting the evidence - albeit 13 years after the fact.

"The officer came forward, you have to give him credit for that," he said.

Sgt. Sess, whose annual salary was $47,255, remains suspended without pay until the matter is resolved.

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POLICE OFFICER SUSPENDED May 13, 1997