Mayor says two police investigations underway; details limited, law firm and auditors named

Mayor Tracy Nichols submitted a written statement read aloud at the North College Hill City Council meeting Tuesday saying two police officers were placed on administrative leave in March 2024 and that separate investigations are ongoing.

Nichols’ statement, read by City Administrator Miss Duxton, said Chief Ryan Charan and Lieutenant Petrocelli were placed on leave in March 2024 “for allegedly creating a hostile work environment.” The statement said the investigations were handled by different parties: the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department handled the inquiry involving the lieutenant, and an investigator retained through Ennis & Britton represented the investigation into Charan. The statement said the investigative work is complete but “the process is still ongoing and being handled collaboratively by attorneys of each party,” and that “some of the details in this investigation cannot be publicized.”

The statement presented the city’s position as allowing legal counsel to continue working toward outcomes for “all parties involved that will result in resolution of these accusatory findings,” Duxton said.

Why it matters: the placement of senior officers on leave and parallel investigations involve the city’s police leadership and the administration of discipline. Council members and residents asked about transparency and public access to documents at the meeting.

During the public-comment segment, resident Cathy Cureton pressed for the names and details of the attorneys and investigators. Cureton questioned whether the investigator retained for the Charan matter had ties to a city official and asked whether a written copy of the mayor’s statement would be posted for residents. Duxton said the mayor emailed the statement for Duxton to read and later corrected the law-firm spelling to Ennis & Britton. Duxton told Cureton the mayor had not indicated whether a written copy would be posted.

Cureton also asked about audits. Duxton said auditors from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department had been at the police department; she said state auditors had not contacted the city. Duxton said she received an itemized records request from the Cincinnati Enquirer within days of starting her role and that the administration provided roughly 20 requested items in December and is waiting to hear whether additional records are needed.

No formal personnel actions or council votes on discipline were taken at the meeting. The mayor’s statement and the public questions made clear the city’s approach is to let attorneys and investigators continue their work before further public disclosure.

A resident asked whether the Ennis & Britton investigator created a conflict of interest; the council did not make a formal determination at the meeting, and Duxton said she could not provide additional details because the mayor was not present and parts of the matter remain nonpublic.