“We told them an internal investigation would be conducted into the allegations, and they resigned,” Ferdelman said.
Nathan Zettler was informed of the internal investigation on Oct. 19, and after meeting with the FOP attorney, he turned in his resignation on Oct. 21, according to the chief.
“Information relative to Roberts was received after Zettler’s resignation but was not substantiated. Neither of those officers were questioned, and that would have been our next course of action. However, both resigned on their own accord,” Ferdelman said.
Jeremy Roberts tendered his resignation within hours of being informed around 8:30 a.m. Oct. 29 of the internal investigation, Ferdelman said.
Both resignations were one-line letters simply stating they were resigning their positions effective the day they were written.
Ferdelman stressed the information received about the alleged misconduct is vague.
“We were not able to substantiate the allegations,” Ferdelman said, but added that he has heard various rumors, including that misconduct may have occurred while the officers were on duty. They worked the same shift, but it was unclear whether the two were work partners. “But we had no substantiation ... no proof,” he said.
In reality, Ferdelman said, even had any misconduct happened on the job, the worst penalty the officers could have received is termination. “And they no longer work here,” he said.
Because of the resignations, there has been no further investigation.
“There is nothing to suggest or implicate others,” the chief said. “And nobody has come forward to say they have been victimized.”
Roberts, 38, was a patrol officer hired by Hamilton police in July 2007. He received a one-day suspension from duty Oct. 3 after failing to report hitting another vehicle with his cruiser while in a parking lot, Ferdelman said.
Zettler, 30, was a patrol officer hired by the department in July 2005. Ferdelman did not mention any disciplinary action involving Zettler.
A third police officer turned in his resignation Nov. 5, Ferdelman said, but that officer specifically stated he planned to move from the area to tend to a family member who has a long-term medical problem.
“I have no reason to believe his resignation is related to the others,” Ferdelman said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or LPack@coxohio.com
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