Tuesday, June 15, 1999
Controversy surrounds man's arrest
Case of deputy mayor's son blown into drama
BY TANYA BRICKING
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Curtis Cooper was sentenced to drug treatment Monday in a routine hearing.
The real drama in the case of Mr. Cooper, 22, son of Cincinnati Vice Mayor Minette Cooper, is happening outside Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Nurre's courtroom.
Mr. Cooper's arrest on felony drug charges and second arrest after tripping the burglar alarm at his father's Avondale home grew into something bigger last week when Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President Keith Fangman called for an investigation by Hamilton County Prosector Mike Allen.
Officer Fangman wants to know whether Councilwoman Cooper abused her power when she called the city safety director and police chief into her office to discuss her son's case before it went to trial.
The accusations turned into a showdown Monday when Democratic Party leaders blasted Officer Fangman, calling for him to “abandon his rhetoric” and seek interracial harmony between police and the community.
“We have been increasingly concerned about the partisan, divisive and dangerous statements which have thus far marked the tenure of Keith Fangman as president of the FOP,” said State Sen. Mark Mallory, co-chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party.
His examples include last month's FOP protest of City Manager John Shirey, when Officer Fangman “attacked the city manager as a "liar,' underscoring his lack of respect for civilian authority,” Mr. Mallory said, as well as “deliberate efforts to hold up to public ridicule” five failing black police recruits in this month's police academy controversy.
“While early on he offered assurances that his background as Republican Party operative would not color the conduct of his office, his actions have consistently been otherwise,” Mr. Mallory said.
Officer Fangman — former Republican campaign manager for now-Prosecutor Mike Allen and once a council aide for Jim Cissell — called the Democratic Party's “indictment” of him off-base.
He said the FOP, under his command, has consistently endorsed candidates of both parties.
The good thing that has come out of it is that both sides want better race relations and the FOP will be happy to join in that effort, Officer Fangman said.
Mr. Mallory and party co-chairmen Tim Burke were angry because they said Officer Fangman endangered Mr. Cooper's life by revealing he had been a police informant.
Police stopped using Mr. Cooper as a drug informant after his April arrest at his father's home, in which officers said he threatened them.
Officer Fangman said that lessened his chances of a plea bargain and he retaliated by making complaints against police. His mother has denied that allegation.
FOP Attorney Don Hardin and Officer Fangman said “Curtis Cooper blew his own cover” by telling individuals and groups outside the police division that he was an informant.
Mr. Cooper pleaded guilty to one count of preparation of marijuana for sale and was sentenced to six months in the River City drug-treatment program and three years of probation.
Officer Fangman said he will not be silenced by political pressure.
He's been FOP president since December 1997 for the FOP Queen City Lodge 69, the union that represents Cincinnati's 1,000-member police force.
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