Franklin County FOP clears president of wrongdoing after complaint, independent audit
The Franklin County lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police says it has cleared its president, Brian Steel, of wrongdoing after a member filed an internal misconduct complaint in November.
The complaint, filed by an officer while Steel was the executive vice president of the organization, accused Steel of improperly using an FOP credit card to pay for a trip to a national police union conference and bullying officers who complained about remarks he made about a fatal shooting by police at a roll call meeting following his return.
The complaint also accused Steel of using unfair labor practices by approaching city leaders outside the formal grievance process after Steel himself was passed over for a promotion at the Columbus Division of Police.
Columbus police officer Joel Westbrook filed the complaint, and the lodge's executive board held a "thorough hearing" and requested an independent audit, the organization said in a Monday news release.
Clark Schaefer Hackett, an accounting firm with locations in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Dubai, conducted an audit that confirmed the lodge's "sound financial management," according to the release.
The lodge's executive board has 14 members, including Steel, according to the organization's website. Steel told the Dispatch he recused himself fully from the process and appeared only to testify, leaving immediately after. Steel would typically lead such hearings, but Brian Toth, the executive vice president, presided instead, Steel said.
Steel is a lieutenant at the Columbus Division of Police. In April, he became president of the local FOP lodge after its former president, Jeff Simpson, retired.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Franklin County police union clears President Brian Steel after complaint
