Friday, April 10, 1998The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Police Division has fired a veteran officer who was indicted last month on 25 drug-related felony charges, police spokesman Lt. Tim Schoch said Thursday.
Willie Ray Jones, 48, of Hyde Park, an officer since 1986, is the 20th officer to be fired in the last two years from the force of about 980 officers.
He faces 24 counts of deception to obtain a dangerous drug -- propoxyphene, a narcotic used for pain relief. He also is charged with having a weapon under disability, meaning he was wearing his service pistol while under the influence of drugs.
His firing comes after a lengthy investigation by the police division's Integrity Management Section, which looked into complaints accusing him of abusing drugs.
Mr. Jones' attorney, Kenneth Lawson, has said the officer was entitled to have the medication because of an injury. His trial is pending.
Two other Cincinnati officers are under suspension, awaiting trials and possible firing:
Officer Kevin Walker, 34, faces a seven-count indictment accusing him of offering women a chance to avoid being arrested in exchange for sexual favors.
Officer Jeffrey Payton, 48, also is accused of soliciting a woman for sex instead of serving her with an arrest warrant. He faces misdemeanor charges of soliciting and dereliction of duty.
