Probe of police misconduct during protests finds little
Aninvestigation into accusations of possible police misconduct during protests Downtown in late May and early June foundmany of the complaints to be unfounded and not supported by evidence.
Ofthe36incidentsofpotentialadministrativemisconduct investigated by the BakerHostetler lawfirm, 22 investigationshavebeenconcluded. Of those 22 investigations, onlyoneofficer’sactionswere foundtobeinviolationofdivision directives or policy. The officer involved in that situation has been given documented constructive counseling.
The remaining 21 investigations resulted in accusations that were unfounded, not sustained orwithdrawn.
During the press conference, Ginther and BakerHostetler said the investigation into some complaints was hindered because complainantswereunabletoidentify officers, some officers were not cooperative with the investigation and officers’ after-action reports did not contain complete documentation.
Ginther previously said investigators were looking into at least 40 instances of potential administrative misconduct and at least 16 instancesof possible criminal misconduct, with someoverlap between the two groups possible.
Themayor said police did receive abuse the first two days of significant protesting, but contended their actions became “overly aggressive and inappropriate” on May 30— the same day Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, City Council President Shannon Hardin and Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce werepepper sprayed in front of a Dispatch reporter and photographer.
Columbusprotestsandsubsequent
rioting started May 28 in response to the death three days earlier of George Floydwhile in the custody of Minneapolis police.
BakerHostetler,aColumbus law firm which the city uses for otherwork, was granteda contract for $550,000toconduct the reviewof the allegations against police. The contractwas not bid on, as is typically done for city contracts.
Ginther previously said the reasonfortheno-bidcontract wasthetighttimelinerequired by the contract between the city and the police union for conductingtheinvestigations.
Thelawfirmhadalso been given $50,000 to investigate the social media postings of a deputy chief within the division.
Columbus campaign finance records show that the law firm has donated at least once to the campaign funds of Ginther, City AttorneyZachKleinandCityCouncilPresidentShannonHardin. At least three people listed as partners at the firm, including the person listed on its website as managing partner, donated individually to Ginther’s campaign funds. The law firm also has done work for the city for more than two decades.
Gintherhadannouncedon June24, the date the contract began, that an independent investigatorwould be hired. HedidnotpubliclynameBakerHostetler until July 1.
Aninvestigation by former FBI agent RichWozniak of at least 16 incidents of possible criminalmisconduct remains ongoing. Wozniak is being paid$84anhourforhiswork.
There is also a comprehensive review of the city’s responsetotheprotestsbeing conducted by formerUnited States Attorney Carter Stewart and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio StateUniversity. That review is being paid for by money fromthe police department’s drug seizure funds.
An investigation by former FBI agent RichWozniak of at least 16 incidents of possible criminal misconduct remains ongoing.