BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NORWOOD - The dismissal of Ken Lancaster, fired by Police Chief Timothy Brown in July over a fight with his wife that involved a firearm, has been reduced by the Norwood Civil Service Commission to a four-month suspension without pay, Mayor Joe Hochbein said Friday.
Last February, Mr. Lancaster was engaged in a heated argument with his wife at their Deerfield Township home in Warren County when he offered her his off-duty handgun after she said she wished he would be "the next police officer killed or would die," Norwood Safety Director Paul Bazzano said.
Mrs. Lancaster reported the incident to law-enforcement officials. Norwood police began an internal investigation in March. Mr. Bazzano concurred with the subsequent recommendation of Chief Brown that Officer Lancaster be dismissed.
In its ruling, the three-member civil service commission agreed that Mr. Lancaster "exercised extremely poor judgment in engaging his spouse in a domestic argument that escalated to the point of physical conduct . . . (and) acted in a dangerous and potentially life-threatening manner when he unholstered his . . . weapon." However, the commission ruled, while the situation "provided just cause for disciplinary action, . . . the evidence is not sufficiently strong enough to support termination."
The board noted that while Mr. Lancaster's act of offering his gun to his wife during an argument "was incredibly stupid, and could have led to a horrible result," evidence showed Mr. Lancaster did not relinquish control of the gun.
The ruling notes Mr. Lancaster underwent a psychological evaluation and was determined to be "fit for duty" and, that his immediate police supervisors - Lt. Michael Wheeler and Capt. Tom Williams - "affirmed their confidence in (his) ability to perform (his duties)."
Attorney Donald Hardin, who represented Mr. Lancaster in his appeal said, "We are very pleased the commission was able to review all of the facts and arrive at a what appears to be an appropriate decision."
Mayor Hochbein said his administration "still stands behind (Chief Brown's) recommendation" for termination.
However, he said, "we are satisfied that the commission imposed the . . . four-month suspension without pay. The commission also wrote that future misconduct by this officer would lead to termination . . . ." "When a police officer, or any other city employee, engages in misconduct, it will be investigated and discipline will be imposed," Mr. Hochbein said. "I hope that is the message from this incident."
Mr. Lancaster is expected to return to the force later this month.
Mr. Lancaster drew attention in July, when he testified during the murder trial of Vincent Doan that he was mistaken in May 1997 when he reported he saw the car of murder victim Carrie Culberson in Norwood.
Ms. Culberson is still missing.
