The Cincinnati Police Division fired Officer Gregory Berting on Tuesday, nine days after the rookie officer caused a fatal crash during a police pursuit.
He had tried to join the chase of a hit-and-run driver June 15, failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into another car. The driver of that car, Michael Tenhundfeld, 18, was killed, and his two passengers were injured.
The police division found that Officer Berting failed to follow police pursuit policy, police spokesman Lt. Tim Schoch said. Policy is to yield right of way to all vehicles and pedestrians, and to enter an intersection only when it is safe.
Mr. Tenhundfeld's family expressed compassion for the officer. "We kind of felt bad for him. I just hope it wasn't a political decision," said Mike Weidner, 39, an uncle of Mr. Tenhundfeld's in Delhi Township. "I just hope, for his sake, he gets help and he's able to deal with it."
The accident was Officer Berting's fourth since he joined District 3 last year. He was found responsible in one other crash, in which he ran into a parked car but caused minimal damage.
He also was reprimanded last summer for violating police pursuit policy when he chased a traffic violator into Northern Kentucky. Policy is to cross the Ohio River only in felony cases.
Officer Berting, 23, was fired during his probationary period - a recruit's first 18 months. He was hired Jan. 14, 1996. He joined District 3 on June 9, 1996, after he graduated from the police academy. Fraternal Order of Police attorney Donald Hardin said, "We will take whatever action is necessary and appropriate."
The police division's traffic unit and the Hamilton County prosecutor's office are investigating whether to file criminal charges, Lt. Schoch said. Charges could be determined by the end of the week.
Previous stories
GROUP ADVOCATES SAFER PURSUITS June 21, 1997
TEACHERS SEE PROMISE SWEPT AWAY Krista Ramsey column, June 21, 1997
OFFICER REPRIMANDED FOR CHASE LAST SUMMER June 19, 1997
VICTIM'S FAMILY PRAYS FOR OFFICER June 19, 1997
OFFICER: CHASE WAS SLOW June 18, 1997
PROSECUTORS CONSIDER CHARGES June 18, 1997
PURSUED MAN RACKED UP OFFENSES June 18, 1997
TENHUNDFELD VISITATION TODAY June 18, 1997
COP IN CRASH RAN STOP SIGN June 17, 1997
COPS' PURSUIT RULES VARY June 17, 1997
DIAGRAM OF THE CHASE June 17, 1997
TYPICAL DAY, TRAGIC NIGHT June 17, 1997
HIGH-SPEED POICE CHASE FATAL June 16, 1997
