By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MONROE - Police Chief Ernest Howard announced Wednesday he plans to retire by January - but warned he might leave sooner if city leaders "make decisions that tear down the department."

The 42-year police veteran, who began his career walking a beat in downtown Middletown, says he had been planning to retire effective Jan. 9 because of health issues and a desire to spend time with his family.

But he might leave sooner if the city puts Fire Chief Mark Neu over both fire and police agencies in a new position as public safety director to save money.

"If the rumors I have heard about the changes they are going to make are true, then I don't want any part of it," said Howard, 68, police chief here since 1990. "I think it would take away the morale of the police department. The rumors are already hurting the troops...Morale is in the toilet because of the uncertainty and most of my guys really don't, from what they know, want to work for (Neu)."

Howard's retirement - and concerns about city leaders - come as City Council members grapple with a financial mess. There are budget cuts, possible layoffs and a proposed income tax increase after revelations that Monroe faces an estimated $1.2 million budget deficit in 2004, in part because of years of apparent financial mismanagement by two former city officials.

On Wednesday, Mayor Mike Morris, who is running for re-election, conceded the city has spent too much on capital improvement projects out of the general fund.

Also on Wednesday, Brock conceded morale is low in the police department - but he pointed out it's low in all city departments because of the financial issues and potential layoffs in the public works department.

But Brock denied the city plans to place the fire chief over both agencies and do away with the police chief's position.

"There's no truth to that rumor," Brock said. "Right now we don't have any plans. We need to develop a plan to replace him."

Howard, who earns $64,378 annually, built the police department from a 35-member part-time force to the full-time agency that it is today with 18 officers and 10 part-time personnel.

Howard also is proud of the Monroe-Trenton Crisis Response Team.

"We've had seven or eight call outs and all of them have turned out where nobody got hurt," he said. "We did have one where a guy committed suicide but that probably happened before they got there."

As Howard leaves Monroe, he hopes the citizens pass a requested income tax increase, from 1 percent to 1.5 percent. "The city needs the money," he said. "Don't kill the city just because you don't think you can trust council. They need to say, 'We are going to pass it, and then we are going to tell council you do it right, or we'll let you know about that later.' "

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com