Friday, April 21, 2000
Officer apologizes to Madisonville group
BY Marie McCain and Jane Prendergast
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hill
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Cincinnati Police Officer Robert J. Hill III apologized directly Thursday to the people of Madisonville for disparaging remarks about their neighborhood.
On Thursday morning, Officer Hill met with leaders of the Madisonville Community Council and reiterated his regret over statements he made about the community while being questioned by Internal Investigation Unit detectives.
“He apologized and we'd like to see this issue put behind us,” said Jerry Markley, coordinator for the Madisonville Citizens on Patrol and chair of the council's Crime Prevention and Safety Committee.
“He realizes the fault of his statement and ... he understands he tarnished the image of the (police) division and was truly sorry for it,” Mr. Markley said.
The officer's comments were made public in March after the findings of an internal probe into his November arrest of a 68-year-old Alzheimer's patient were released.
The officer, a three-year veteran of the force, told investigators he was known for Maceing people, but that it was because of where he worked.
The ensuing furor prompted apologies from Mayor Charlie Luken and Police Chief Thomas Streicher. FOP President Keith Fangman read a letter of apology from Officer Hill to City Council. The officer also apologized in an open letter to The Enquirer.
The family of the man with Alzheimer's, Robert Wittenberg, is suing the city, the police division and Officer Hill for $2.25 million, citing a variety of issues, including battery, false imprisonment and excessive use of force.
The most serious of the internal findings concluded that Officer Hill used excessive force and knowingly presented false and misleading information in a submitted division report.
He is awaiting disciplinary action and has been stripped of his police powers and is working in the department's supply room.
Mr. Wittenberg wandered from his Silverton home Nov. 14 into a Madisonville convenience store. Store employees called police after he refused to leave.
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