Thursday, July 08, 1999
Officer pulled off drug task force
Charge of DUI reduced in plea
BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — A Lebanon police officer, sidelined after an alleged drunken-driving incident, has lost his job as head of the Warren County Drug Task Force.
Sgt. John Pennington, 50, assigned to head the task force since it started five years ago, will leave the drug unit July 31 and return to the city force, Warren County Prosecutor Tim Oliver said Wednesday.
Mr. Oliver said Lebanon officials recalled Sgt. Pennington as a disci plinary measure after the April traffic incident. Sgt. Pennington could not be reached for comment.
“He has done a very good job for the drug task force for the past five years. I'm sorry it ended the way it did, but it's time to move on,” Mr. Oliver said.
Sgt. Pennington was charged with drunken driving and traffic violations April 28 after a state trooper saw Sgt. Pennington's county car weaving on Ohio 63 near Markey Road at 4:49 a.m. Sgt. Pennington, who was alone, refused a breath-analysis test.
In a plea agreement last month, he was convicted of a reduced charge of reckless operation. A judge fined him $250, ordered him to attend an alcohol intervention program and banned him from driving for six months, except for work.
Sgt. Pennington, a 22-year veteran of the Lebanon police force, was placed on desk duty until the task force policy board met to decide whether he should continue on the drug unit. Lebanon officials took action before the board did.
“The board had no decision to make. Lebanon recalled him and he gave us his resignation. There was nothing more to discuss,” said Mr. Oliver, a member of the policy board along with several Warren County police chiefs and the sheriff.
Acting Lebanon City Manager C. Ed Patterson said he also suspended Sgt. Pennington for 35 days. The suspension will be reduced to five days if Sgt. Pennington completes the alcohol program, He will be assigned to the patrol unit in Lebanon when he returns, possibly next month.
“John has never been disciplined. He's been an exemplary officer. We are proud of what he was able to do. We are sorry this little incident has tainted his record,” Mr. Patterson said.
Applications for the drug unit position are being taken from Warren County police officers through Aug. 13.
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