BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MAINEVILLE - County officials have tossed a wrench in the village's decision to have sheriff's deputies as sole police backup.
Warren County Administrator Robert D. Price has ordered the county communications center to dispatch the closest officers to all life-threatening situations.
"For Warren County to do otherwise would cause us all to step into a legal quagmire as it would be impossible to justify why the closest backup police officer was not sent and a serious injury or death occurred to a police officer or a citizen," Mr. Price wrote in a Nov. 6 letter to Mayor John Michael.
Maineville's decision last month to replace township police with sheriff's deputies for night calls and emergency backup came after Village Police Chief Joe Lane said he was fed up with the "attitudes" of township officers.
He told The Cincinnati Enquirer a turf battle on traffic stops had caused friction between the departments.
Hamilton Township Police Chief Gene Duvelius countered that Maineville officers were pulling over speeders miles from the location they gave to dispatchers, putting village officers in jeopardy if something went awry.
Problems escalated when township police allegedly failed to back up a village officer on a domestic violence call in October, prompting Chief Lane to ask the communications center to send sheriff's deputies only.
That concerned Communications Director Frank Young, who went to his boss, Mr. Price, and to county commissioners.
"I didn't want to see our agency in the middle," Mr. Young said. "I told my people, 'If you feel the need to send the closest police officer, if it's a life-threatening situation, I don't care what uniform they are wearing, or if they are naked, send the closest police officer.' "
Mr. Michael said he agrees with the county's actions.
Sheriff's deputies will continue to patrol Maineville at night and respond to routine calls for backup, according to Mr. Young. In the meantime, the village and township are trying to resolve their differences and hope to reach some agreement in December, Mr. Michael said.
"By then, everything will be worked out, and it's a matter of going through the formalities . . . to finally decide to totally work together," he said.
Chief Duvelius said he plans to continue meetings with Chief Lane until the matter is settled. "Chief Lane and I are working very closely together to try to resolve the concerns and make it work out for the best."
