By David Eck
Enquirer contributor

NORTH COLLEGE HILL - A part-time North College Hill police officer, accused of pointing a gun at two people during a road rage incident, is on paid leave from his full-time job as a Springfield Township firefighter, officials said Tuesday.

John Morris, 37, was charged with two counts of aggravated menacing in the Saturday!night incident.

Morris has been on vacation from the North College Hill department since June, and is not scheduled to work there again until Monday. Both departments are conducting investigations into the incident.

Morris was off duty and in his own car about 5:15 p.m. Saturday when he saw an oncoming vehicle passing another car. Morris turned his car around and followed the vehicle, at one point getting out and banging on the vehiche's window while it was stopped, said Hamilton County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Barnett.

Morris continued to follow the vehicle to a gas station at 2785 Struble Road, where he and the occupants of the other car got out and started arguing.

It was during that dispute that officials said Morris pointed a handgun at the couple, Barnett said.

Morris was ticketed Monday evening and could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Morris joined the North College Hill police department as an auxiliary police officer in 1999. He was hired as a part-time officer in 2000.

Personnel records indicate he has earned satisfactory and excellent performance evaluations.

"In looking at performance evaluations, there's nothing negative," North College Hill Police Chief Paul Toth said. "He's a very friendly guy."

North College Hill officials are investigating, Toth said.

The handgun was Morris' personal weapon, and he was authorized to carry it while off duty.

Morris has been a Springfield Township firefighter since 2001.

"We're not making a statement by putting him on leave as to his guilt in this matter," said township administrator Michael T. Hinnenkamp. "What we want to do is what's in John's best interest and, of course, what's in the public's best interest."

E-mail daveck@fuse.net