BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ken Lancaster
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NORWOOD -- Ken Lancaster, the Norwood police officer who testified he was mistaken after he reportedly spied the car of Clinton County murder victim Carrie Culberson last year, has been fired over a fight with his wife that involved a firearm, city officials said.
Norwood Safety Director Paul Bazzano concurred with the recommendation of Police Chief Timothy Brown and dismissed Officer Lancaster by letter on Wednesday.
Mr. Bazzano said that Mr. Lancaster was in a heated argument with his wife last February at their Deerfield Township home in Warren County, when he handed his off-duty handgun to her after she stated she wished he would be "the next police officer killed or would die," Mr. Bazzano said.
Mrs. Lancaster reported the incident to law enforcement officials. Norwood police began an internal investigation in March.
The incident represents a direct violation of Norwood Police Department policies and procedures, Mr. Bazzano said. It constitutes conduct unbecoming a police officer, "careless and imprudent" handling of a weapon and "conduct prejudicial to the good order of the (police) division."
Mr. Lancaster could not be reached for comment. City officials said he has not been in contact with them since his termination letter was mailed Wednesday. Attorney Donald Hardin, who represented Mr. Lancaster during disciplinary hearings, said: "You bet it will be appealed" to the city's civil service commission, "and then some."
In the termination letter to Mr. Lancaster, Mr. Bazzano wrote: "By removing your off-duty weapon from its holster and handing it to your wife, I find that your response to your wife's comments (was) totally unacceptable. Clearly you demonstrated poor decision-making . . . You put your life and that of your wife's in great danger."
According to the safety director, Mr. Lancaster, a 10-year member of the department, expressed dismay during the internal investigation interview that his off-duty conduct was an issue. "I consider off-duty conduct very seriously when the conduct of a police division employee has brought discredit upon the good name of the city and police division," Mr. Bazzano said.
In May 1997, Officer Lancaster, reported he saw the license plate on a car that was registered to murder victim Carrie Culberson. But during the murder trial last July of Vincent Doan, Officer Lancaster testified that he thought he made a mistake.
Ms. Culberson's body and the car have not been recovered.
