Documents: Fired Circleville officer disciplined for talking about dog-mauling incident

Circleville Police Chief G. Shawn Baer last week fired his police dog handler following an attack on an unarmed truck driver who was on his knees with his hands up. But the termination was not because Officer Ryan Speakman violated police policy by unleashing his dog, Serge, who mauled driver Jadarrius Rose for more than 40 seconds.

The official reason for the firing on Thursday was for not meeting the "standards and expectations we hold for our police officers." And now, according to a letter from Baer dated July 25, a week before the firing, Speakman was punished for crying, speaking with colleagues and others, providing misleading information and having stress-related behavior related to the incident and attention he was receiving.

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Signed by Baer, but with no recipient named, the letter, titled "Chief Baer's involvement with Ryan Speakman July 19 through July 21," states, "I explained to him that his conduct was not beneficial to himself or the agency." Released to The Dispatch on Monday via a records request, Baer says he had this conversation with Speakman July 19, two weeks after the incident, and that he ordered Speakman to remain silent.

But the next day, Baer wrote, Speakman continued to discuss with others the State Highway Patrol stop of Rose and dog mauling incident, at times tearfully, prompting Baer to then order an internal investigation of Speakman.

Baer ordered Speakman to provide him with the names of everyone he had spoken to about the incident.

At one point, Baer wrote in the letter that Speakman was so concerned about the Belgian Malimois, "Serg," with whom he lives, that "he was begging that I not take his best friend from him.' Baer told him that he had no intention of doing so "if you (Speakman) haven't done anything wrong."

"I reminded him that we were following policy and to allow us the time it takes to follow the policy," according to Baer. On July 21, Speakman was placed on paid administrative leave.

It was only after The Dispatch and other media reported on the incident that Speakman was fired.

Neither Baer, nor anyone else in the city, informed the public that two days after the July 4 mauling, a 7-member review board had already concluded that Speakman had "acted within departmental policy" and had done nothing wrong. All but one of the board members are Circleville police employees.

Instead of punishment, the board, the names of which have not been released to the public, recommended that Speakman and Serg return to Shallow Creek Kennels in Pennsylvania for follow up training on July 31.

In a separate letter, Mayor Donald McIlroy informs Speakman that a pre-disciplinary conference would be held on July 25 surrounding Speakman misrepresenting who he spoke to about the incident and its review.

"During the course of a Use of Force review, you were asked by the Chief of Police, in the presence of the Deputy Chief of Police and HR Director, who you have communicated with about the review. You stated you did not speak to anyone outside of the Circleville Police Department. Chief asked you to provide a list of those individuals and the list included individuals not affiliated with the Circleville Police Department," the letter stated.

In Speakman's handwritten list, he notes speaking to his wife, a dog trainer, his father and mother-in-law about the incident before it was publicized.

Speakman was fired July 27.

Neither Chief Baer nor Gary Kenworthy, Circleville's law director, have returned repeated calls for comment from The Dispatch, citing the ongoing investigation. Speakman could not be reached on Monday afternoon.

The silence and seemingly contradictory letter from the police chief have frustrated some in the city.

"The city has been far too silent," said Zack Brooks, 24, a life-long Circleville resident who is running unopposed for City Council. "If the chief believes that the canine situation has been handled properly, then why was he not screaming that from the rooftops and be willing to back up his officer, and defend his department and defend his city?"

Video of the mauling shows that upon his attack command, Serg initially bolted for a State Trooper before Speakman directed him to Rose, who by that time was on his knees with his hands above his head. During the mauling, troopers nearby could be seen turning away and covering their eyes. Speakman and another officer pried the dog's teeth from Rose's left arm as Rose collapsed, screaming in pain.

Baer wrote that the final review findings would not be made until at least Aug. 4, when the follow-up kennel training was complete.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ex Circleville police officer disciplined for discussing dog mauling