COMMENTARY | Cincinnati is the home of to the first professional baseball team and first professional fire department in the U.S. The city long recognized for positive contributions is rapidly destroying its own credibility by employing law enforcement officers who make criminal headlines themselves. Cincinnati Police officer Ronald Kiner was arrested over the weekend for breaking into a woman's home, choking her and then dropping his gun onto her chest, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Kiner is a veteran officer with 12 years on the force and is the fourth officer to be arrested or questioned for criminal behavior in the past year. The dozens of honest law enforcement officers employed in the Cincinnati area must be disgusted with the scrutiny and disdain these men have caused for all local departments.
Kiner entered the victim's home late at night and attacked her, according to witness statements released to the media. Kiner was accused of threatening to kill the same woman after damaging her car in November, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The restraining order issued did nothing to protect the woman from a man who likely felt he was above the law. Ohioans should not have to fear common criminals and police officers. The police department should have terminated Kiner's employment when the court determined a restraining order was necessary to prevent the man from causing emotional or physical harm to one of the residents he was sworn to protect.
Members of the grand jury which failed to indict him on stalking and menacing after his initial death threats should be hanging their heads in shame today. Unfortunately restraining orders are often not worth the paper on which they are printed. Kiner was undeterred by the court instructions to stay away from his alleged victim.
One case of criminal activity at a single law enforcement agency would be termed an isolated incident. Illegal actions by multiple men at various Hamilton County law enforcement departments indicates a shocking trend which must be addressed by local leaders. Perhaps more extensive psychological testing before hiring is in order. Once an officer becomes a member of the union, it is so very difficult to remove him from the force. Residents and visitors to the Cincinnati area deserve a real protective force and not a fast and loose collection of gangsters with badges.
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