Officer who stomped on suspect reinstated

A Columbus police officer who was fired after he was caught on cellphone video stomping on a suspect has been reinstated, according to a 27-page arbitration decision issued Monday.

Officer Zach Rosen will return to working patrolling Zone 4, which includes North Linden, where the incident happened, said Sgt. Dean Worthington, spokesman for the Columbus Division of Police.

Columbus police say Demarko Anderson had pushed and elbowed another Columbus police officer in the face who was attempting to arrest him. Officers were responding to a call of a man with a gun near a North Linden residence during the April 2017 incident. Anderson’s charges are still pending in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, records show.

The officer eventually took Anderson down at the end of a concrete driveway. A video circulated on social media showing Rosen running up and stomping on Anderson once with his left foot as it appeared the officer was finishing handcuffing Anderson. Anderson’s head struck the pavement.

Rosen was fired in July 2017 by Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus. He overrode a recommendation made by Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs to suspend Rosen for 24 hours. Her recommendation was based on how other officers were disciplined in other useof-force cases.

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther publicly expressed disappointment in Rosen’s action shortly after the incident, saying his actions eroded public trust in police.

On Monday, his office issued the following statement: “We disagree with the decision of the arbitration of Columbus police Officer Zach Rosen. We believe the public safety director’s decision for termination was the correct one. However, we respect and will abide by the legally binding arbitrator’s decision.”

The arbitrator’s finding issued Monday shows that Rosen did not use reasonable force when arresting Anderson, but the firing was too severe a penalty.

This is the second high-profile use of force incident Rosen has been involved in. Both incidents happened in Linden.

Rosen is one of two officers who shot and killed 23-yearold Henry Green while working undercover in June 2016 in South Linden. Rosen fired 15 shots in that incident. A grand jury cleared the officers of any charges. The division recently ruled in that case that the level of force was justified.

Worthington said Rosen will still have the 24-hour, or three-day, suspension. The remainder of time that Rosen was off from work will result in him receiving back pay. Records show he was making $39.70 per hour before he was fired.

Rosen will have to be updated on all the training he missed before he returns to patrol, Worthington said. That could take weeks.