Portsmouth Mayor Jane Murray drew headlines earlier in the week when she said — “This is probably the most corrupt city I have ever witnessed, the most corrupt government. I’m not used to that.”
Now Portsmouth’s top law enforcement officer is saying if there are allegations, there should be an investigation.
“It’s highly improper if you don’t have evidence of corruption to make allegations of corruption,” Horner said, in an exclusive interview with the Portsmouth Daily Times. “And obviously if she (Murray) does have evidence of corruption it needs to be turned over to the proper law enforcement agency.”
Horner said use of the term “corruption” carries legal ramifications.
“People shouldn’t wildly throw out allegations of corruption unless there is evidence,” Horner said. “And if there is evidence, that evidence needs to be brought forward to law enforcement. And that evidence, if it exists, would, in our case, more than likely be sent to the State of Ohio for an investigation.”
Who would handle such an investigation?
“It all depends on, if there was corruption, what the corruption is,” Horner said. “It could be the Inspector General of the State of Ohio; it could be BCI&I (Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation); and ultimately the Attorney General would make that determination.”
Horner said use of the word “corruption” infers that the Police Department, Fire Department, Solicitor’s Office, or any such department in the city, is corrupt, and thus sheds a bad light on everybody in city government — “And that’s not good for a community. If there is evidence, the evidence needs to be brought forward and taken to the appropriate authorities for evaluation,” Horner said.
When the Times asked Murray who she was referring to as corrupt, Murray said she was making a reference to — “The vitriolic attitude that pervades this whole country. National and local discourse. It’s the same.”
On Friday, Murray was asked her response to Horner’s call for evidence to back up her claims.
“At the right time I will take the information to the proper authorities,” Murray said.
Frank Lewis may be reached at (740) 353-3101 Ext. 232 or flewis@heartlandpublications.com
Our family chose Portsmouth as home in 1998 and feel we have better protection than any of the other cities we have lived in or visited.
Because the current mayor does not like sirens in her neighborhood and she objects to motorcycles, does not mean problems with the police are a part of her problem.
It appears the mayor has the problem.
1. Who serves at the pleasure of the Mayor, or supposed to in legal municipalities?
2. This Chief wanted the Mayor's staff to see him personally just to get accident records, get the picture?
3. Yeah have the fox protect the hen house, uh huh.
4. Is the Chief wonderin' what evidence she has and trying to flush it out?
5. Will the Chief sue to do his job?
6. If he's the chief, should he not know?
7. A Chief is a lawyer, knowing what "legal ramifications" are?
8. Columbus will touch nothing here, the City and County Solicitors would see to that. What's that rule 28?
9. Ah, the chief has an idea where corruption could be, that's interesting, no? Did he blow their cover?
10. This Chief did the same in the media, the PDT's coincidentally, on the Traffic Signals with all that fuzzy Traffic Engineering math.
11. Also there was a whole front page on the Lee Scott case that's legal but put into the media, trial by media, Scioto County, SE Ohio style.
12, What's next?
13, Have they planned it yet?
14, What's a RICO?