Tuesday, February 02, 1999
Investigation of police broadens
Sheriff's office urges FBI probe
BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Butler County sheriff's office is urging Fairfield Township to involve the FBI in a widening investigation of anonymous harassing or threatening letters sent to township officials.
“There have been more allegations made of possible wrongdoing, and we've been asked to provide more polygraphs for other employees of the township,” said Col. Richard K. Jones, the sheriff's chief deputy. “It could get out of control, and it's our opinion that maybe the FBI should come in.”
On Monday, Col. Jones said he made that recommendation to Township Police Chief Mike Kirsch late last week. Chief Kirsch, who placed Officer Donnie Greene on paid administrative leave Jan. 21, could not be reached for comment. The chief hasn't given a reason for Officer Greene's leave except that it was “pending the completion of an internal personnel investigation.”
During the probe, about 13 people, including the entire police department and at least one civilian township employee were subjected to lie-detector tests and questioning, Col. Jones said. The sheriff's office provided those services at the request of township trustees, who have declined to comment.
Col. Jones cited several reasons why the sheriff's office decided to pull out of the probe and ask for FBI intervention.
“It gets very uncomfortable to investigate another law enforcement agency that you work with every day,” Col. Jones said. “Besides, with someone using the postal service for these letters, it may involve a federal crime.”
Col. Jones wouldn't say whether the new accusations were aimed at more people or at those already questioned. He also wouldn't say whether the allegations involved the letters or some other alleged wrongdoing.
Further, Col. Jones declined to discuss the letters except to say, “There were some (letters) that could be taken as threats.”
The Cincinnati Enquirer asked to see the letters under
Ohio's open-records laws, but so far the township has denied access to the documents. A letter from Township Administrator Kate Earley last week said the township considers the letters “confidential law enforcement investigatory records,” which would be exempt from public disclosure.
The Enquirer disagrees with that interpretation of the law, said John A. Flanagan, a lawyer representing the newspaper.
“We believe the documents were and continue to be public documents subject to review by the public,” Mr. Flanagan said. “The fact that they were later reviewed by investigators does not make them exempt.”
Township Law Director Jack Grove and Sam Hopkins, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 38 (the union representing Fairfield Township officers, including Officer Greene), declined to comment Monday.
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