EVENDALE — Voters here may not have the final say in the controversial hiring of Officer Stephen Roach.

        Village Council could vote as soon as Thursday whether to allow a referendum on the hiring this fall.

        Councilwoman Catherine Hartman said Monday that council members most likely will vote not to place the issue on the ballot, because the village solicitor recently told them “administrative matters by law are not appropriate” for referendums.

        “We'll probably announce it at that meeting,” Ms. Hartman said.

        Mayor Douglas Lohmeier said Monday the village was trying to clarify the legality of holding a referendum on an administrative issue such as an employee hiring.

        “We are still soliciting a second opinion, and that is part of the issue we are looking into,” Mr. Lohmeier said.

        Opponents of Officer Roach's hiring collected enough valid signatures to put their referendum to oust the officer to a vote and believe they are legally entitled to one.

        The Hamilton County Board of Elections checked the more than 200 names and determined at least 155 — the required number — were those of registered voters who live in Evendale.

        Officer Roach, 27, whose fatal shooting of an unarmed, fleeing man April 7 sparked riots, quit the Cincinnati force in January and started with Evendale Jan. 22. He was acquitted of negligent homicide and obstructing official business last fall.

        The village's solicitor and police chief did not return calls for comment Monday. But village officials have said repeatedly that those supporting Officer Roach's hiring far outnumbered the opponents in this suburb of about 3,000 residents.

        Officer Roach has been undergoing training with a veteran Evendale officer and his first arrest, Feb. 19, was a big one. He was one of two Evendale officers who captured a suspected bank robber about a half-hour after a Springdale bank was held up.

        Opponents of Officer Roach's hiring vowed Monday not to give up their fight to keep him from patrolling their streets. They maintain he has become a symbol of racial strife and they fear for the safety of their neighborhoods.

        They also have criticized village officials for making the decision on an emergency basis without public input.

        “Why are our village leaders doing all this?” said Dr. Randy Cox. “... They either don't care what we think or they're running from the truth.

        “... We control our own neighborhood. It's not a black or white issue. It still goes back to a right-from-wrong issue.”

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