Cincinnati officer accused of using police database to get woman's personal info

A Cincinnati police officer was indicted Monday on charges he illegally accessed a law enforcement database to obtain personal information about a 19-year-old woman, prosecutors said.

Timothy Lutz, who joined the Cincinnati Police Department in 2003, is charged with two felony counts of unauthorized use of the law enforcement automated data system.

In December, Lutz accessed the Regional Crime Information Center database, a longstanding information hub used by multiple law enforcement agencies in and around Hamilton County for decades, the prosecutor's office said.

In Cincinnati's employment databases, Lutz was listed on Monday as a police officer in District 1 making $86,077 a year. This database lists Lutz's age as between 51 and 60.

The department said in a statement Monday night that Lutz's police powers have been suspended and he is currently assigned to a "non-patrol, administrative assignment" pending the ongoing investigation into these allegations.

Cincinnati police union president Ken Kober said his organization represents all officers and they are all entitled to due process.

"At the same time, police officers are entrusted with information and responsibilities that means they must be held to higher standards," Kober said in a statement. "Any police officer who is convicted of a felony is forfeiting the privilege to be a police officer and should be held accountable by the justice system."

A Hamilton County grand jury reviewed the charges and levied the indictment Monday. Next, Lutz will be arraigned in Common Plea Courts on March 8.

"As the Police Chief, it is my duty and responsibility to ensure that any allegation of misconduct by any member of this organization is thoroughly investigated. I take the conduct of our members very seriously and require all CPD members to adhere to the highest standards of our policies," Chief Teresa Theetge said in a statement. " I would like to stress to our community that the actions of one do not represent the actions of the many hardworking, dedicated members of CPD, those who strive each day to deliver exceptional police services to our residents, business owners and visitors."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Indictment: Cincinnati cop used database to get info of 19-year-old