Portsmouth Police Chief Investigation Completed

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Posted: 3:35 PM Aug 18, 2008
Last Updated: 7:01 PM Aug 18, 2008
Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com

13 comments

Portsmouth Internal Investigation Report (pdf)

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PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- The investigation of suspended Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner has been completed according to a news release from Mayor James Kalb.

Back in May, Horner was suspended as chief after a lawsuit was filed against Horner and the City of Portsmouth by businessman and community activist Lee Scott.

Scott’s lawsuit alleged that Horner abused his office, by among other charges, threatening retaliation and intimidating Scott--even summoning Scott's wife to his office. The suit also claimed Horner searched, towed and scratched Scott's car without a warrant.

Kalb says he took the situation to the state after the lawsuit was filed and he received other complaints from the public besides the one from Scott.

In a news release on Monday, Mayor Kalb says the investigation included both a criminal investigation conducted by the Ohio BCI & I, and an internal administrative investigation conducted by a former U.S. Marshal and a former FBI Agent.

Kalb say the BCI & I investigation concluded the agency was unable to “substantiate any felony criminal activities; however, BCI & I indicated that Mr. Horner’s actions may be consistent with civil or administrative violations or misdemeanor criminal violations.”

The release says the internal administrative investigation “substantiated allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, insubordination, and creation of hostile work environment.”

As a result of these investigations, the Mayor set a pre-disciplinary meeting for August 27 at which time Mr. Horner will be provided an opportunity to respond to the disciplinary charges.

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Posted by: Karen on Aug 28, 2008 at 10:37 PM
If the Chief asked his men to lie for him, if he protected personal friends from being investigated,if he covered up crimes,warned people of impending drug busts so that they would avoid being caught, and all of his officers knew he operated in this manner, no wonder his comments to the FOP were met with an uncomfortable silence. How can HE accuse any office or person of being corrupt? How could his officers ever trust him to do the right thing? This would explain their overwhelming vote of no confidence. He needs to stand up and accept the fact that he brought this all on himself and quit looking for a scapegoat. Nobody forced him to do these things. He made these choices on his own. Anybody who makes excuses for him or operates the way he does should be fired right along with him.

Posted by: Mark on Aug 27, 2008 at 03:10 AM
Chief Horner (I mean Jim) ...The officer did not break any policy so why would he say "he messed up." Are you that stupid or that drugged? Second... Chief (Jim) Are you trying to lie and say you had NO knowledge prior to the Mayor sending the press release? Nothing was delivered? Forgot about that huh? Word on the street is the obstruction of juctice deals with a photo, cell phone, and your friend, not the victim who was stabbed as you claim. Boy your so-called truths & the real truth are 2 different stories huh? Imagine that & you wonder why your in the position your in. As far as crimimal charges not being filed, that happens in corruptly run departments like the way you ran yours. We are tired of your lies Horner. Try the truth for a change, it may due wonders for you. I will take the statements of those 17 LAW ABIDING officer over a dishonorable Chief anyday. I feel sorry for his family .. and the embrassment he has caused them.

Posted by: Neal on Aug 27, 2008 at 02:38 AM
What a disappointment/discrace Chief Horner has been to the Police department & city. From what I have read, seen, & gathered in the past months, the Chief has a problem with the truth & obeying orders. He is told to stay away & have no contact, yet he goes to the FOP lodge, is caught sneaking several times to meet his secretary outside of the city building, seen recieving papers from a capt in a resturant. The Gag order must not have been convenient to have then. His peers voted they have no confidence in him. I think that speaks volumes about how he ran his department. A man with no honor is not an honorable man... His family referred to him as a religious man in an article, yet bearing false witness is a sin...he has been caught in several lies. Those 17 officers brought in black & white proof. Those items brought against the chief are subtantiated facts not allegations. Black/white proof. The chief is reeping what he sows... I have a feeling he will be sowing for a long time in cou.

Posted by: Ben on Aug 22, 2008 at 07:17 PM
As I remember it there was nothing said in the initial report about the officers saying they messed up. There was a complaint from a citizen that one of the officers kicked somebody. Then the citizen wanted an attorney. The guy he "kicked" could not decide where he was kicked at, the shoulder, the head, somewhere but he was kicked, no marks at all. The officer said he did not kick him but did use his foot to prod him because he would not show his hands, I believe were the Chiefs own words in the paper. The chief made a spectacle of this, not the officers. Oh and by the way, If the officers "came" to the "Chief's" office, Jim must be the Chief, or else it would have been went to the Chief's office. English lover.

Posted by: Jim on Aug 20, 2008 at 06:18 PM
The "special investigator" states that in his opinion the officer did not violate policy - funning how the officer and Lt. came to Chief's office stating he messed up. Also, you state that the Chief discussed it with the media prior to the officer, did not the Mayor release this press statement prior to discussion with the Chief? I wonder if the "special investigators" know of officer discretion - The obstruction of justice is the Chief telling a officer not to file charges on the victim of the stabbing on 11th Street, who almost died by the hands of the person who went into Notre Dame and shot and stabbed his wife. Criminal Charges are not filed every day by officers through out the United States and they are well within their rights - I believe the Chief was well withing his rights. I bet if you ask these "special investigators" they also have not pursued every charge that they could have.

Posted by: Maggie on Aug 20, 2008 at 11:35 AM
All I can say is that when people are put in or elected to any Public office, they need to do there job correctly. When they use the position held to overcome personal gain is the begining of failure within that office. Abuse of Power is proven and seen all around us everyday, this needs to be stopped at all cost. Proper punishment should be enforced and by all means, a slap on the hand or allowing someone to just simply retire or walk away freely is by far not good enough. What any one person does to put themself in a positon of this sort, does not care how the family feels and that is double the heartache for the family. Envy,vindictiveness,jealousy and plain having a cold heart will destroy everything in its path, as well as the one traveling this path. My prayers are with families that have to endure such pain as this. All the public office holders have to do is be honest in there jobs, no matter how big or little a position may seem. Dishonesty has a way of creeping up your back.

Posted by: BILL on Aug 20, 2008 at 03:36 AM
MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF HIM IF THE EVIDENCE IS THERE. AND ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO DOES THE SAME..

Posted by: Ray on Aug 19, 2008 at 07:15 PM
I concur with Jackie this man has had his family attacked and his own person attacked. These so called concerned citizens need to get a life and but out of everyone elses even the mayors family was attacked now he is back in the spotlight even though he is the worst mayor I have even seen. He has been in government for years and still he is a do nothing Mayor just as he was a do nothing councilman. I feel sorry for who ever runs for mayor after this lowlife gets out of office can we say bankrupt. I say bring back Bauer If I knew my vote was gonna get a goof I would have never voted Bauer out of office.

Posted by: Jackie on Aug 19, 2008 at 03:03 PM
If the good citizens do not rise up and support Chief Horner, we will deserve the increased corruption in our government and the results this will bring to our community. Portsmouth, we are at a cross-roads. Corruption and abuse of power abounds here, but it is NOT found in the person of Chief Horner!

Posted by: Heather on Aug 19, 2008 at 02:20 PM
It's called the dying breed of "good ole' boys" who think they can do what they want because of who they are.

Posted by: taxpayer on Aug 19, 2008 at 03:41 AM
hopefully he will finally get what's due him. he has continually called the concerned citizens/taxpayers of this town DOMESTIC TERRORISTS........from the looks of this report, we now see who the REAL terrorist was

Posted by: Portsmouth on Aug 18, 2008 at 08:52 PM
The city government is less than honest. No one trusts any of them.

Posted by: RUSSELL on Aug 18, 2008 at 06:11 PM
MAYOR, WHO WAS THE FBI AGENT ?

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