EVENDALE — Two village officials said Tuesday they'll research ways to rescind the hiring of Stephen Roach as a police officer, but they're not promising they'll strip him of the job even if they find a way.

Roach

        Mayor Doug Lohmeier acknowledged to a group of 20 residents Tuesday night that he and other council members significantly underestimated residents' response to the hiring of the Cincinnati officer, whose fatal shooting of Timothy Thomas in April sparked protests and riots.

        “We did not consider the magnitude of the controversy,” the mayor said. “We said, "Our job is to find the best candidate. Not the second-best, or the third-best, but the best.”

        Officer Roach scored second overall on the written exam and top on the oral interview by Evendale officers. His and four other names were submitted without ranking to council's three-member hiring committee. They recommended him. His $45,500 salary will be a little more than what a starting officer makes in Cincinnati.

        Village Solicitor Christian Schaefer said he has been looking for a legal remedy to appease the concerned residents. But he said he hasn't found one that wouldn't subject the city to a lawsuit.

        The citizens at the meeting, about evenly divided between black and white, urged their leaders to try everything possible to stop Officer Roach from patrolling their streets. Among their ideas: Simply ask him if he still wants to work where many people don't want him.

        There are about 266 African-American residents out of 3,090 total residents in the village, according to the 2000 Census.

        Officer Roach, 27, a four-year veteran of the Cincinnati force, is scheduled to start work in Evendale on Jan. 21. He resigned from Cincinnati on Friday, but still remains an officer there. He is off work, using vacation and compensatory time.

        It is not impossible for him to continue working in Cincinnati. Chief Tom Streicher said officers often resign, then change their minds. He called Officer Roach an exceptional, mature young officer who is very committed to the job.

        But it is not likely that Officer Roach, who has his police powers back but remained assigned to the impound lot since the April 7 shooting, would go back to any high-profile patrol work anytime soon. That's best, the chief said, for both him and the community.

        Officer Roach was acquitted in September on charges of negligent homicide and obstructing official business.

Adamowski: Replacing buildings a 'no-brainer'
Bush signs school bill in Hamilton
Hamilton turns out for president
Top cops meet president
New federal law doesn't worry Ky., Ohio officials
Roach hiring reconsidered
Paperwork bogs down riot loans
CAN about ready to convert words to actions
Make a rule, break a rule
Opposition mounts tonight against Loveland YMCA
Superintendent resigning
Tristate A.M. Report
Winning idea: Freedom is thinking
RADEL: This old school
SAMPLES: Vigilante mom
HOWARD: Some Good News
19th DUI gets man four years
Fast-growing Mason expands by another 105 acres
Memorial campaign under way
Senior services levy proposed
Byrd execution date sought
Let judge decide on cameras in court, congressman says
Anti-gambling in full-court press
Armed robber forces 4 to strip
Four deny roles in murders
Kentucky News Briefs
Riverfront site set to become Newport park
Session opens with fighting
Small Wal-Mart plan expected for Ft. Wright site
Three carjack man near Carrollton