Wednesday, February 03, 1999
Union rips paid leave for officer
Action follows harassing letters
BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP — The township has given no valid reason for putting Police Officer Donnie Greene on paid administrative leave amid an investigation into anonymous, harassing letters sent to township employees, the police union's attorney said Tuesday.
“Donnie Greene is an honorable young man ... and I believe he is the victim of a political witch hunt — and so does the (Fraternal Order of Police) Lodge 38 that I represent,” Mike Shanks said.
He said no departmental charges have been filed. “This witch hunt is basically a ruse to stir up bad feelings about the police department,” he said.
In January, the Butler County Sheriff's Office, at township trustees' request, gave lie-detector tests to all township police, including Chief Mike Kirsch. The chief placed Officer Greene on leave Jan. 20 without giving a specific written reason. Sheriff's investigators also took handwriting samples to try to discover who wrote the anonymous letters, which township officials won't discuss.
The sheriff's office, which said the investigation is widening, recommended the township enlist the FBI. Township officials haven't said whether they will do that, and Cincinnati FBI spokesman Ed Boldt on Tuesday would say only his agency had not yet joined the investigation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Shanks alleges the township's trustees are trying to use the probe to pave the way for disbanding the police department and hiring the sheriff's office for police protection — accusations that township and sheriff's officials deny.
“They're wrong,” township Administrator Kate Earley said. “Neither Officer Greene nor the FOP is being picked on or punished in any way.”
Trustees Chairman Joe McAbee said trustees discussed a proposal for hiring a couple of sheriff's deputies to patrol the township about a year ago, “but we never discussed the possibility of replacing our department with them.”
Col. Richard K. Jones, the sheriff's chief deputy, also denied any such hidden motives.
Mr. Shanks “is hoping the issue will go away if he throws enough smoke and clouds,” Col. Jones said. “It's time something be done to fix it.
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