BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
NORWOOD -- An eight-year veteran of the city police department was placed on administrative leave Wednesday after a female acquaintance accused him of harassing her.
Officer Mark Rankin, 29, has been charged with telephone harassment, Norwood Police Chief Timothy Brown said.
He will be on paid leave while the department conducts an internal investigation as to whether he violated any departmental policies or procedures, said Paul Bazzano, Norwood director of public safety. The alleged victim, Tonya Wallace of Norwood, filed a complaint with Norwood police in June alleging she had received harassing, obscene messages on her pager over several months.
Officer Rankin allegedly made harassing calls from his residence and possibly from the Norwood police headquarters, Mr. Bazzano said.
Because Ms. Wallace has filed criminal charges, Chief Brown said, "the law director advised us he be placed on administrative leave."
Officer Rankin, reached at his parents' home Thursday, denied the allegations. He has been with the department since July 1990. "There is no doubt in my mind these charges are false and they will be fought," he said.
"This was an ex-girlfriend who has been harassing me since I broke up with her. I am currently working with my attorney on filing several charges against her."
He is scheduled to appear in Hamilton County Municipal Court on the charge July 16.
