Thursday, September 23, 1999

Norwood struggles with chief's actions

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Brown could face jail term today

BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        NORWOOD — As Police Chief Timothy Brown stands before Common Pleas Court Judge Norbert Nadel this morning to accept his sentence on four misdemeanor counts, Mayor Joe Hochbein will be mulling the chief's future — if any — with the city.

        The mayor said he thinks about the issue daily: Trying to separate the value of the community-oriented police programs launched by the 46-year-old chief from the dishon esty and abuse of public trust Chief Brown has been found guilty of committing.

        “Unless the judge puts him in jail, my options are to bring him back as chief of police, to bring him back in some subordinate or diminished — likely administrative — capacity, or terminate his employment with the Norwood Police Department. Or, Tim could choose to retire if he wishes,” Mr. Hochbein said.

        Judge Nadel found Chief Brown guilty of four misdemeanor charges for lying about crashing his Jeep after he had been drinking at a

        party. The maximum penalty on each of the charges is up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

        Instead of reporting an accident when he hit a utility pole last December, Chief Brown reported his Jeep stolen — right after he called a repair shop to have it towed.

        An investigation by Norwood officials led to the chief's suspension and indictment on felony charges of tampering with evidence and records. Judge Nadel found the felony charges were not substantiated. ÿÿÿ

        While there is no doubt the chief acted illegally and embarrassed himself and the community, it's clear Chief Brown also has made his mark on the Norwood Police Department and the community at large.

        Chief Brown targeted new programs to train officers in diversity and race relations. He rekindled a program on domestic violence issues.

        “He started communications with HOME (Housing Opportunities Made Equal),” said HOME Assistant Director Jonathan Williams. “He invited HOME in to provide training on hate crimes, ethnic intimidation, fair housing issues and we held two sessions ... at the Norwood Police Academy. He was certainly doing the right things as far as I was able to see.”

        Jane Grote, an attorney and presi dent of Norwood City Council, has been involved in the city's domestic violence committee for a decade. “He made his police officers take training sessions in what to do in domestic violence cases and the resources available to them. Without an enthusiastic police chief supporting these efforts, they will not get done,” Ms. Grote said.

        Morris Williams of the nonprofit Coalition of Neighborhoods said Chief Brown regularly attended round-table discussions and was sensitive to fairness issues.

        “He was making some real progress with that department professionally. He recognized that ... no matter what a person's color or appearance you protect and serve and uphold the law equally.”

        Mr. Hochbein credited Chief Brown with changing a department historically in isolation from others and resistant to participating in area-wide programs.

        Under Chief Brown, Norwood police joined law enforcement programs such as the Drug Abuse Reduction Task Force, Drug Abuse Resistance Education and the Hamilton County Police Chiefs' Association. ÿÿÿ

        Despite the progress under Chief Brown, the mayor said he has two serious concerns when he looks at any future for Chief Brown with the Norwood Police Department.

        “One of the things at the core of this to me is his crime of dishonesty and it was directed at the Norwood Police Department. ... Could Tim come back in any role and function within the department?

        “The other thing involves his abuse of the public trust. Whatever his future role might be in the police department, how will the public feel about him wearing a uniform again?

        “I'm going to need some time to decide what I'm going to do — a week, two weeks.”

        Chief Brown will remain on administrative leave until a decision is made. He could not be reached for comment. ÿÿÿ If Norwood turns to new leadership, Mr. Hochbein said he is committed to continuing community-oriented policing.

        “I hope it is not the case that a new chief will be resistant to that. ... It is also my hope that some of our officers, who were were initially resistant to some of these programs, have changed their minds about them.

        “Still, I recognize that there is a strong old school, maybe old-boy network, that still exists in that department. They oppose these programs and want to go back in a shell and be left to themselves,” the mayor said.

       

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