By Sharon Coolidge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

OVER-THE-RHINE - Cincinnati police's new union leader vowed to defend the actions of officers and called on the public to stop blaming police for the ills of society.

Sgt. Harry Roberts, new president of the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police, speaks to members of the media. At right is Vice President Keith Fangman. (Gary Landers photo)

In his first public comments Wednesday, Sgt. Harry Roberts, a 24-year Cincinnati police veteran, said frank and frequent communication with city and police leaders as well as with residents will define his presidency.

"It's time to stop blaming the police for everything," Roberts said. "We all play a role. Police react to the actions of others. They're given tools to save lives, their own included."

Roberts ousted former Fraternal Order of Police President Roger Webster by a vote of 432 to 231 Monday night.

The vote, he said, signaled that union members wanted a change and a voice - especially in upcoming contract negotiations.

"People want to know what's going on and want to have input on how things are run," Roberts said. "I have made that promise."

Webster, who served one two-year term, was criticized last month for calling a man who died after struggling with officers a "crackhead" and for saying firefighters should not have left the scene of that confrontation.

Nathaniel Jones, 41, of Northside, died after struggling with officers in a videotaped confrontation in a fast-food parking lot.

Jones' death came 21/2 years after another police-involved death of a black man touched off race riots in the city. The Hamilton County coroner said Jones' enlarged heart stopped because of the stress of the struggle, but that he also had cocaine, PCP and methanol in his system when he died.

Roberts would not comment on Webster's statements.

FOP Vice President Keith Fangman, who has often been the voice of the union in recent years, introduced Roberts to reporters Wednesday and praised Roberts' leadership skills and dedication.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Roberts said he ran for the presidency at the end of his police career because he thought he could make positive changes in the city. He ran unsuccessfully against Webster two years ago and lost by 13 votes.

"I was not motivated to run against (Webster)," he said. "I ran because I felt I could do a better job. As a member of this community I thought I could help benefit it."

One way he said he plans to do that is negotiating a better contract for the union's 1,020 members. Those negotiations will begin in October. The contract expires next December.

Roberts called the current contract, in which officers pay a portion of their health care, "pathetic and insulting."

He said that during the 2002 contract negotiations officers didn't know what was happening and had no input.

"We lost a lot of ground," Roberts said. "We need better wages and better benefits."

He estimated at least 20 officers have since left for other departments that offer more money and better benefits.

Roberts met Tuesday with Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken, City Manager Valerie Lemmie and Police Chief Tom Streicher. But they didn't discuss specific issues, just the importance of communication, even if they disagree, Roberts said.

Roberts and Fangman said they also have begun to repair their relationship with the fire department.

"We need to pull together," Fangman said. "We're both labor unions and I'm a firm believer the unions need to come together more than ever as a unified team."

Fangman said he would continue to be outspoken, something union members have asked of him.

Roberts leaves his current position to work full time as FOP president. Doing so, he said, came with a $5,000 pay cut because he loses overtime pay.

"I thought about it, but you can't think about the money," he said. "Only what you can accomplish."

New FOP leader

Name: Sgt. Harry Cleveland Roberts

Age: 53

Home: Cincinnati's east side

Family: Divorced father of three

Education: Withrow High School graduate, 1969. Attended University of Cincinnati, 1971-1974.Professional experience: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office corrections officer 1978-80; Cincinnati police officer, 1980-93; promoted to sergeant in 1993.

Union experience: Served on FOP's executive board, 2000-02; ran unsuccessfully for president, 2002.

Hobbies: Boating, skiing, basketball.

Sgt. Roberts responds to questions

Q: This is a high profile, demanding job. Why do you want to do it?

A: I believe I can make a difference. I'm not happy with the way the police department has been portrayed in the past several years. I want to do something about it. I want (to be) high profile.

Q: Personal style has become important in this job. How would you describe your leadership style?

A: Passionate, aggressive and professional. I'm not afraid to speak the truth. Professional means everyone always deserves to be treated with respect regardless of actions or words.

Q: Christopher Smitherman, elected to city council last month, criticized Police Chief Tom Streicher for putting out inaccurate and premature information regarding the death of a man in police custody last month, saying he will not tolerate insubordination and that city council was the chief's boss. How big a role should Mayor Charlie Luken and city council members play in how police officers do their jobs?

A: We need to report to city council, however, city council should never act as a Monday morning quarterback because that's not their job. The mayor and city council make rules for us to follow and pass laws for us to enforce. But when something happens, they should let the systems in place do the job. The majority of council members are trying to do the right thing. There are a few members who are unfortunately not there to serve the public. Self-serving council members should maybe change jobs.

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E-mail scoolidge@enquirer.com