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photo by Jessica St. James
Mayor Rich Blankenship listens at the city’s hired attorney, Alan Lemons, addresses visiting Judge Fred Crow.
Attorneys to present written briefs in Rist case
Judge yet to decide on probation termination, appeal of arbitrator’s ruling
Published Saturday, December 12, 2009
Fired Ironton police officer Beth Rist will wait at least another 30 days before learning if her probation will be terminated, allowing her to go back to work as an officer, or if the city will be allowed to bypass an arbitrator’s ruling and keep her off the job permanently.
Visiting Judge Fred Crow Friday asked Rist’s attorney, Warren Morford, and the city’s attorney, Alan Lemons, to submit written arguments on both matters within 30 days. He indicated he will rule on the matters shortly thereafter.
Morford had asked Friday to have Rist’s two-year probation terminated, thus removing some previous objections to her returning to work.
People on probation are generally prohibited from carrying a gun, being in the company of felons and being out past curfew, all of which police officers routinely do in their line of work.
On Aug. 27, 2008, Rist pulled over a woman who had run a stop sign.
Dolly Newcomb, of Ironton, had no insurance, was driving under a suspension because she had no insurance and had expired vehicle tags.
Rist summoned Newcomb’s daughter, Jamie Sparks, and indicated she would give Sparks the citation to keep Newcomb from going to jail. Roughly a month later, Sparks went to court to answer the citation and was told because there was no insurance on that vehicle, she would lose her driver’s license as well.
One of the two women then reportedly called the police department and complained.
Rist was fired and then indicted on felony charges in connection with the incident.
She later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of falsification and placed on two years probation.
She filed a grievance against the city to get her job back but was first denied by Mayor Rich Blankenship. However, arbitrator Harry Graham ruled Rist was the victim of disparate treatment and ruled she must be given her job back. The city has filed a motion to overturn that ruling.
During court proceedings Friday, Morford argued Rist has been a model probationer and has abided by all the terms of her probation since she pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor count of falsification in February.
He argued the city has used her probation to keep Rist off the job and to violate the arbitrator’s ruling.
“I ask for a determination that she has served long enough on probation. She’s had her life turned upside down. She didn’t profit from this personally and she has expressed remorse,” Morford said. “We ask that she be allowed to go back to the job she loves.”
But Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr., contended that Rist has been on probation less than a year and less than half of the time to which she was sentenced.
He pointed out Rist was originally charged with a felony that was reduced to a misdemeanor.
He rejected any claims that she has been treated unfairly for what she had done.
“The court is well aware of her transgressions and misconduct,” Collier said.
Lemons asked Crow to overturn arbitrator Harry Graham’s ruling from this summer that gave Rist’s job back to her.
Lemons argued, among other things, Graham exceeded his power when he took into consideration Rist’s length of service and her personnel record in his decision because it was not a part of her union contract.
“He went outside the contract and applied mitigating factors,” Lemons argued.
Lemons argued the union contract with the city does give the mayor the power to fire an employee for misconduct such as lying under oath and committing even misdemeanor crimes, both of which Rist did when she falsified a traffic ticket and then pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge associated with it.
Lemons said other courts have overturned arbitrator’s rulings on these grounds and cited a case in which a Cincinnati officer was first fired for admitting he lied under oath during a criminal trial.
The officer was given his job back by an arbitrator and then removed from his job by Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
The lower court’s ruling was upheld by a court of appeals ruling that stated
“...It is also common sense and an inherent expectation that law enforcement officers taking an oath to uphold laws and serve the community must not lie. Honesty and service to the community are expectations of all law enforcement officers. A violation of that trust impairs an officer’s ability to perform the duties of his or her job.”
But Morford countered that if Crow throws out the arbitration award in Rist’s favor, “you might as well throw out all the arbitration decisions. They can’t come back in here when you don’t like the result and ask you to set it aside.”
Morford also argued the Cincinnati case is nothing like Rist’s.
“We’re talking about a traffic citation here, for Pete’s sake,” Morford said.
Meanwhile, Rist has gotten a job as a police officer, though not with the city of Ironton. About a month ago, Rist was hired on as an auxiliary officer for the village of Chesapeake. She will not be paid and will be treated as if she were a cadet in training
The reason for the hiring was to enable the officer to maintain her certification, which she would lose if she were not associated with a police agency.
“Right now, she can’t do much more than being a ride-along,” Mayor Dick Gilpin said. “We will treat her basically like someone in training. In that capacity she can’t do any arresting.”
Rist came to the village council to ask that she sign on to their force. The council voted 4 to 2 in her favor. Councilmen Paul E. Hart and Paul N. Hart did not support the majority’s decision.
“I understand she is a good officer,” Gilpin said. “I have seen her record. She made a mistake and paid for it by being reprimanded and being put on probation. … Any department would be proud to have her under any other circumstance.
“If this one ticket caused disciplinary action, she faced that. A lot of people in Ironton must think a lot of her. They voted her in as a councilman.”
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Comments
Posted by osu (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Comments disabled.
Posted by cg88 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
does this story ever end ? lol
Posted by flo (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 12:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Her life has been turned upside down? SHE turned her life upside down with her actions.
Remember Martha Stewart went to prison for lying to a court.
Why should this probation be suspended? She agreed to it.
If Gilpin thinks so highly of her, let him hire her. The Ironton police has proved they don't need her or her trouble.
Posted by rooster1410 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Rist voluntarily agreed to the reduced charges. Let her live with the choice that she made. If she had done nothing wrong, then she would have never pled guilty.
Posted by monstermind (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 1:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Im staying away from that loser town Ironton know wonder its broke and nobody but her wants to be there GOOD LUCK IRONTON you will need it
Posted by jcshop (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 5:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
as for 1 yes i voted for beth an she was a very good cop an in alot of peoples eyes in ironton she was one of the best......what she done was mild to what a lot of the ipd force have done my god!!but i forget u can sweep away murder charges of rape an ect.an a falsified ticket gets her thrown from the force ....come on people ..get ur heads out of whom evers butt an let her do her job!!!im just shocked that this town can be so broke yet the mayor an chief make such stupid decisions all because of there pride well i got news for u ,u gotta answer to the big guy upstairs one day an then hopefully u can beg for forgiveness an get NOT GET IT!!!!!!!!hang in there beth....we are still pullin for u no matter how many aholes come up with stupid crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by mommyof2 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I still don't think her life should end because she made a mistake. Delaying this longer and longer enables her to make a living or pay her bills. And if we fired every public official or government person who lied, half of them would be gone. Think the town needs to move on and find something else to take them further in debt instead of fighting on something due to their pride being hurt. Arbitrator ruled and now the officials just need to accept it.
Posted by overtaxed (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Am I wrong? I thought one cannot work for the city and serve as a council member. Isn't that a law?
Posted by angelgirl (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
her probation SHOULD NOT BE terminated.SHE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANYONE ELSE! WHAT'S WRONG WITH IRONTON?
Posted by nottellin (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Angelgirl, there are MEN in that p.d. who have done far worse than she did. They didn't even get a reprimand.
She should never have been fired.
Posted by RabidTiger (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MommyOf2... I agree partly with you, because just in Ironton, half of those 'STILL on Ironton City Council' are DISHONEST... and they believe 'They Are ABOVE THE LAW'... just because they have been there too long
and have a bunch of backstabbing lying cronies to back them and vote for them...
They break rules and city ordnances EVERYDAY and have allowed and even encouraged others and their
employees to violate the law... With the attitude... no one cares about that... or this... so go ahead...
just do it...!!
IF AN ORDNANCE OR LAW IS ON THE BOOKS IT SHOULD BE EQUALLY AND PROPERLY ENFORCED...
The Ironton Police Department Dispatchers and Officers are tired of being called to ask that someone ticket
a vehicle in handicapped parking... or in a no parking zone....
They and the Mayor... do not EQUALLY AND FAIRLY enforce their own rules and laws...
THEY LOOK THE OTHER WAY!!!
Remember that merchant that would put merchandise outside his store in downtown Ironton???
WELL IF YOU GO OVER TO A 'CERTAIN FANCY' RESTAURANT ON 2ND STREET AND
WALK BEHIND IT YOU WILL SEE SEVERAL CARS PARKED ON THE SIDEWALKS...
BLOCKING PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC....
AND THEY ALSO HAVE HAD (FOR OVER A YEAR AND MORE) BEEN ALLOWED TO KEEP A
TRASH DUMPSTER ON THE SIDEWALK THAT BLOCKS THE VIEW OF THE STREET AND
PEOPLE HAVE TO WALK INTO THAT STREET JUST TO GET AROUND TO THE CORNER....
OH AND BY THE WAY... SINCE WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME SOMEONE CHECKED ON THE
IMMEGRATION STATUS OF CERTAIN RESTAURANT WORKERS AT 3 DIFFERENT
EATING ESTABLISHMENTS IN IRONTON..??
OH SORRY... 'No Hab-lay English Sinore'...
((Maybe I cant spell it right... but you should know what it means...))
AND TO YOU MR. MAYOR.... AND IRONTON CITY COUNCIL....
AND IRONTON POLICE CHIEF AND YOUR DEPARTMENT....
START WITH GOING BACK TO THE BASICS...
ENFORCE ALL LAWS AND ORDNANCES FAIRLY
AND EQUALLY...!!
It was President Teddy Roosevelt that said...
"NO MAN.... IS ABOVE THE LAW.... NOR IS HE BELOW IT...."
Posted by CommonMan (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Are we serious here? Only in Ironton can you commit a crime, lie about it, then not only tie up city money and the court system, but even get elected to public office! This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in Ironton and I couldn't be happier that I don't live there anymore!
On a side note...if you're going to post something on here, please learn to spell and use good grammar....makes you and your comments look stupid!
Posted by angelgirl (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A POLICE OFFICER IS ONE YOU CAN TRUST, TO FOLLOW THE LAWS AND MAKE SURE THE CITY FOLLOWS IT AS WELL!
I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST BETH..I DONT KNOW HER NOR HAD RUN IN'S WITH HER.SO ITS NOT HATE,I JUST FEEL THAT WHY SHOULD SHE BE ANY DIFFERENT? AND HER NAME IS IN THE NEWSPAPER JUST AS MUCH AS THE CRIMINALS..THAT ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS
Posted by whoswho (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms.Rist did do wrong...It doesn't matter what anyone has done wrong,this is just about her..She is on probation and should have to serve it all..If not all the people on probation,can they get theirs lifted? Just a thought,fair is fair..
Posted by angelgirl (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
whoswho,thats right she has Ironton so wrapped around her finger,ever since she won the lawsuit against them..it's time to put a stop to all her nonsense..make her finsh her probation
Posted by falinrok (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ya'll be nice to Ms. Rist. She will be your next mayor soon.
Posted by summerrain (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why did the Mayor hire an outside attorney instead of using
one of the city attorneys (who are already paid to do this
work)? Apparently money is no object to the city.
Posted by 4victims (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG, yes this needs to end. Surely the people in this city see that this is nothing short of a witch hunt. How much taxdollars is this costing? Hiring the lemon bros of portsmouth. Why didn't the anderson's handle this? Why is this prolonged time and time again. This has got to be costing thousands. All over a ticket, that was taken care of by Carey before Rist was ever fired. The people need to know the facts about this case and I believe they are about to hear more than they want to!
Posted by slim472002 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hey ironton................ let face the fact . thier is nothing in this dump town that is honest. rist was a crooked cop . so the great citizens of our great town voted her in as 1 of our city council men that speaks for it self .this is a little crime town. and 1 crime is as bad as the othier . hell the ironton police cant control this little town they have to get help from the OHP .LET THE STate have it . if all the cops on the ironton police cant handle it well as i said it speaks 4 its self . young people may as well leave they dont have a chance here. mayor step up do ur job .....................
Posted by cashmere (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To me, probation means that the court understands that the defendant did something wrong, but feels that stronger punishment is not needed, but the seriousness of the crime requires a time period in which the defendant can stay 'clean' and show the court that this was a one time violation and will never happen again. Probation was the sentence, and agreed upon. Ms. Rist has been elected to office and even been taken on by a local force. Why should her probation be revoked? Let it be served and she can get on with her life. I don't see that she is being treated any differently than anyone else on probation.
And I am tired of the illogical argument about how others did worse crimes than she. Under that argument, no one would ever be punished for any crime because someone else got away with something.
Posted by summerrain (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cashmere, I think the reason the probation was asked to be
shortened is so she can be employed by a police department.
It is difficult to be on a force if you can't carry a gun. That
is the big issue. Personally, the Chief could have given her
a job inside where she didn't have to carry a gun. Also,
the Mayor could have cooperated by not refusing her
unemployment.
Posted by michaelOH (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How long has she been fired now?
Posted by Stringbean (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Mayor sure likes to spend Irontons funds. These lawyers and the Judge are not local. Wait until the city gets into the 2 million dollar suit with the man IPD tased.. And they still have the Guy Thomas suit pending. The puppet is going to suffer from the one pulling his strings. Strange all these alligations coming from the IPD department. Where is the Chief?
Posted by bystander (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is ridiculous. WE the taxpayers are paying for this and I think the mayor needs to answer some questions. Why not everyone go to the next council meeting and ask some questions about these things. Kill two birds with one stone, Rist will be there and so will the chief and the mayor. Lets get this out in the open. What are the real facts in this case? Why the deployment of attorney's and all this fuss over what she did? How much is this costing US! Does the mayor think he can just use our money to fight this. If the city wins the appeal, then Rist has the right to appeal that decision. This could go on for years and years. It would be cheaper and better for the city to just swallow some pride, put her back to work and move on. Arbitration is a very valuable event in the eyes of a collective bargaining agreement. Union people in this town should be eyes wide open on this one. What a major disaster this will be for the union. I dont want to hear anything about a waiver. This should have never reached this far. Lets use our taxdollars to solve some of these murders instead of crucifying Rist over and over again. She messed with a ticket too give someone a break. What cop in this country has not done that for one reason or another. The media has reported over and over again this story. If Rist gained anything by her actions we, the public wuld have heard about it. What politician has not taken kickbacks in this community for helping a buddy? This is getting old and I know there are more important issues that can be under the microscope instead of this one. My goodness, just think if Rist would have been driving that crusier that killed the thomas boy. They would have put her in prison for the rest of her life. Think about it.
Posted by 79Tiger (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The bottom line in all of this folks is that it will be worked out within the judicial system. Many people get sentences reduced, probation revoked etc. Whether you think something smacks of favoritism or not, it is still the judicial system we have.
Posted by summerrain (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bystander, I think everything you said is absolutely true. Bravo!!
Posted by whoswho (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mayor Rist(RISK) Chief Carey gone,then who?Why was she put in council to try and get so much POWER to make US all look stupid...All the people that do have jobs don't you have rules to go by? what would happen if you didn't follow them?
Posted by bystander (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
whoswho?
I think we all know this is not about any rules. If you are one to say that this is not persoanl, then you have been misinformed. If you are the mayor of a community? Would the betterment for your citizens, not be your top priority?
Well, in this case it seems not. I do not like to think that my money is going toward an event that I will never benefit from. What will any of us (citizens) benefit from this continued trail behind Rist. Taxdollars should be just as important as the RO-NA. Regardless of past history with the city and Ms. Rist, whoever is Mayor, should be a person qualified to determine what is in the best interest of the city. It appears magnified, that the mayor continues to throw caution in the wind. This lawsuit could be Katrina to our city. The mayor needs to end this dispute quickly, professionally and without concern of financial backers that hold the markers.
Posted by cashmere (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did Rist not understand what probation meant? that she couldn't carry a gun, etc.? That normally future employment as a cop generally requires the use of a gun? If she gets her probation revoked fine, I'll sleep okay and the sun will still come up, but I do note that she got in trouble for breaking rules, and now she wants to break more rules with no other reason that she wants it.
I don't know her record, so I can't comment on what kind of cop she was, but I do think that on any future force and case, any attorney with a degree from Podunk Law school will question her honesty in any arrest she makes.
And again, bringing up the wrongs by others, still does not make what she did right. If those wrongs are now investigated and prosecuted or not, it still does not wipe her error away.
Should they just dismiss the case against that guy who burned up his wife in Coal Grove just because other murderers got away with their crime?
Posted by Stringbean (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cashmere,
There were people in Ironton murdered and no one charged. One man was beaten to death with witness and no one charged. So this case with Rist is a personal problem and Chief is the big voice. Rist got over 1200 votes in the Council race so the people in Ironton supported her and they know the hidden issues.
Posted by bystander (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cashmere, with a large smile, I simply ask you to realize this is a traffic citation, not murder or arson or even jaywalking. This matter now falls into the lap of each and every citizen watching the episode before us. Taxdollars are being spent by a government that seeks any avenue for funding! Explain the reasoning behind what I just stated? We are spending monies on what it seems to be, as a contest or arena event, on who will win? The city or Ms Rist? It is obvious this entire situation with her is indigenous. As a community, all should question actions of their elected officials, especially when the requirement to be a citizen is paying taxes.
Posted by flo (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know the woman, but I know she broke the law and was caught. Why plead to a lesser crime and then not expect to fulfill the time given? She agreed to her probation so she should have to do as she herself agreed.
Posted by summerrain (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have read all of the above and it looks as if Ms. Rist's
supporters are more intelligent and use the best grammar.
Posted by no1 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Beth should be treated the same and any other one that has broke the law. When you are a police officer and I teach my children to respect them because they are suppose to be role models to our childern only now I have had to explain what she has done wrong and that Beth has to pay the price of breaking the law like anyone else but this isnt what is happening here. Beth knows she broke the law and if it was anyone else and the shoe on the other foot she wouldnt want them to get off like she is trying to do so Beth needs to take her punishment. This may help slow down any other things that go on in the department that goes on and they get by with. If it keeps going it will be like Hanging Rock here I have seen alot of things going on at the station but no one does anything about it when you complain to the Mayor. No matter what county or village you are in there is always someone that does wrong and the hard part is explaining to our childern they are suppose to be upholding the law not breaking it.
Posted by bystander (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The city and Rist attorney also agreed on arbitrarion. They had an arbitrator step into the centerpiece of a dispute and both agreed to follow and abide by that arbitrator's decision. Now, since that decision failed to remedy the city's personal needs, they want a re-match. To address your commentary on future cases and departments. Without a doubt, any attorney that would bring up this stain of sorts on her record, will be quickly positioned as a knight in check from any prosecutor "With a degree from Podunk Law school. This entire ordeal has been manufactured, rehearsed, performed and played out. Now after being reviewed it appears the voting public, although only at about 30%, did in fact support Rist.. Those are undisputed facts and clearly a result needs to be in the immediate future.
Posted by Stringbean (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A young man in Coal Grove was speeding no license,no insurance and no tags. He was stopped by CGPD. Later had a wreck in Coal Grove CGPD called. NO CHARGES EITHER TIME. Now tell me all police officers are honest and follow the rules as an Officer. They all decide if they want to tear up a ticket and who they want to charge.
Posted by jcshop (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thank you! she is still a human being an there is not one cop anywhere that can say they didnt let someone slide .....an as for the other comments bout her beenin voted in she did it didnt she at least she did it legal or r u gonna try to say that was screwed up too!!! stop being so stupid !carey has it in for her an the mayor they r just scared there little secrets r goin to come out oh well get em out the clostes u bunch of losers!!!!!!!! why would she hang on to this if she wasnt right? they just dont want a woman there bs bs bs
Posted by fireman2127 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
it seems to me that the judicial system has failed tremendously.a law enforcement officer is to uphold the law,not break the law.according to what i read in the
paper,rist plead guilty to felony charges,but was slapped on the hand and given probation.and then elected to the ironton city council?why not just make her the mayor?i think she should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,and not be allowed to serve in any capacity
Posted by fireman2127 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 6 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jim carey runs a clean dept.he knows what the laws are and abides by them.anyone who thinks dirrerntly,obviously doesnt know what they are talking about
Posted by fireman2127 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
my bad,i meant anyone who thinks differently
Posted by bystander (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rist did not plead guilty to a felony charge.
Posted by Stringbean (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fireman,
Where did you go to school? Go back to school, you are missing something or you can stay in the fire station and polish the truck.
Posted by cashmere (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 6:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bystander, I agree that it's crazy as far as all the money being expended on this case. I suppose one could question whether cities should choose to go to court based on expense. Nevertheless, it is in court, and if Ms. Rist had just taken her punishment to a crime she admitted to, this would not be happening.
I really didn't understand the "knight in check" comment, and admittedly, I'm no lawyer, but if Ms. Rist was under oath and asked if she had ever falsified a police report.......??????
I realize this is just a traffic violation, not a felony, but I still think that though taking responsibility for one's actions is not the popular course these days, Ms. Rist pled, and she should take the punishment. By the time this all plays out and lawyers get richer, the probation will be over.
And Summerrain, I hope my grammar in opposition to Ms. Rist's conduct didn't offend "U" in anyway.
Posted by RUNutz (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me recap what I've read on this situation. An IPD officer (Rist) made a traffic stop on a motorist (Newcomb) for running a stop sign (violation #1). The motorist was driving with a suspended license (violation #2), no proof of the state's minimum liability insurance (violation #3), and invalid (expired) tags on the vehicle (violation #4). The IPD officer, who took an oath of office to uphold the laws of the State of Ohio and the City of Ironton did flagrantly and blatantly disregard those applicable laws by falsifying a traffic ticket to a third party (Sparks), who was not in the vehicle, in order to prevent the motorist, who was by prima facie evidence guilty of violating four traffic laws, from going to jail. The IPD officer was charged with a felony, later reduced through plea bargaining to a misdemeanor, resulting in probation. Now, the IPD officer wants the probation period terminated and the officer returned to duty. I personally could not give credence to any future tickets or arrests made by this disgraced officer. If I am ever unfortunate enough to be stopped by this officer, the case will definitely go to court. RUNutz?
Posted by whoswho (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Very good comment Cashmere...
Posted by Stringbean (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
With all the money the Mayor is spending on a traffic ticket, will there be any funds left to defend IPD on the Aaron Roe and Guy Thomas lawsuits?
Posted by prayers (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 8:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you think what is going on in Ironton is questionable, you should come to Chesapeake the leader of the police department and the head of the village is as crooked as a dog's hind leg. You people don't know the meaning of disgrace and cover-ups. Trust the police? Ha! Worst than the crimimals...not all of them but if the shoe fits wear it.
Posted by rainpebble (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are things about this case that people don't know and others don't want to admit to knowing. Yes Beth wrote the daughter a ticket. The car had no tags. The daughter said she could not afford to have the car impounded. Beth told the woman if she got into the car she would have to give her a ticket. The lady was fine with this and paid her ticket. After the ticket was paid an officer got in touch with the daughter and informed her that if she did not file charges against Beth they would take her children. I was at the hearings and anything that JB wanted to say about Beth was allowed and anything Beths attorney wanted said was disallowed. They were going to go to court and wanted JB subpoenaed because he had made a threat to Beth. The judge would not allow it. It was quite obvious what was going to happen. She basically was forced into taking the lesser charge. I was also at the arbitration and the girl who received the ticket informed the arbitrator that she had been threatened. If you have any friends who are officers do not ask them for any help or they may be fired also. Of course this may only pertain to Beth.
Posted by summerrain (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cashmere, your grammar did not offend me, however you need to
know an officer or any witness can only be asked about felonies,
not misdemeanors. Rist was charged with a misdemeanor
so there would not be a problem with her testifying.
Try to refrain from using so many contractions
Posted by cg88 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hmmmmmm she lies on a traffic stop and this town elects her to serve !!!! whats wrong with this picture ? how could she ever be a witness in a real case ???
Posted by flo (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If she knows the people she works with and her bosses feel this way about her WHY would she want to work with them? Principle? No spite!
She went to Chesapeake where they must want her so she should take her punishment she agreed to and move on.
Why make all this trouble?
Posted by flo (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If she wasn't friends with the people defending her, they would not defend her either.
Posted by cg88 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
good point r u nutz this is a disgrace to this city she did a very serious wrong and is getting away with it. nutz nutz nutz
Posted by slim472002 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well well well ................ ihave looked over ever comment. listen it isnt about grammer this is bull. think u got to make a point to all office holders. all crooks leave ur office or we will put u out this town cant take any more .
Posted by sugar08 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why should she be punished the way she has been when she isn't the only one who has ever done something wrong.Some of the others have done a lot worse and have never been punished and there have been plenty of them. I agree if someone does something wrong they should be punished,but make it fair for everyone not just one person just because they have a vendetta against her. The state needs to come in and take over because the ones who are in sure can't run anything.
Posted by cashmere (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Summerrain - too many contractions? How silly!
I am not saying that she can be asked about her particular misdemeanor, I am saying that if an attorney knew about this case and Ms. Rist was the arresting officer, the attorney could ask her whether she had ever falsified an arrest report. The past history of Ms. Rist would not be brought up, but if Ms. Rist says she had not falsified a report, than there is a problem, and if she says she did, would that not put a reasonable doubt into those adjudicating the case?
Posted by cg88 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 9:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
all of you that say the others have done wrongs start naming them lets see who they are also??????
Posted by Slick77 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 10:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Something I observed.... made me say hmmmm.... 80 comments for the Rist article, which is old and ongoing news. 1 comment for the Christmas giving article about providing help and Christmas baskets for the needy. Where have our priorities gone? :(
Posted by ribbon (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Slick77. Wrong is wrong and right is right.
Posted by porter (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm so sick of hearing "she's not the only who's ever done anything wrong." I'm sure she's not but we're not talking about what everyone else has done. She committed a crime as an officer. I don't care what everyone else has done. If they get caught, then I hope they also get prosecuted. She needs to serve out her probation and actually learn from the experience rather than call up an attorney and sue the city.
The icing on this entire cake is that the brilliant citizens of Ironton turn around and vote her in as city council. You people are hilarious!!!
Posted by 4victims (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess there is some stink about what happened at boomers on saturday night. I wonder how the officials will handle that complaint? Someone was injured by police then arrested and taken to jail without being offered medical attention.
Posted by summerrain (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cashmere, asking if she had falsified a ticket is the same as asking about a misdemeanor.
Posted by turbo (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess there wlll be another lawsuit. Someone needs to resign.
Posted by Vil (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Frank Murphy was outside of the new school handing out literature for her. Beth is also related to the McCowns. The people didn't want her on council, the Democrat Party and Murphy's folks got her elected.
It is all about the Mayor not letting Frank Murphy's wife run the Ro-Na renovation. It is a personal vendetta against our Mayor and the IPD.
Posted by summerrain (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do you not get it? The voters have spoken..just get over
it.
Posted by turbo (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well it looks like we got Vil (the villian )back with the same bad attitude
Posted by Stringbean (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jealous people must make rude remarks. The election is over. You best be watching your Mayor cause he is responsible for the bills and they will be building up.
Posted by flo (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Vil, I was wondering how she could be elected after causing so much trouble. Now I have answers.
Posted by summerrain (anonymous) on December 15, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Mayor, is it true the professional fees
(which are thousands of dollars) paid to the
firm you hired from Portsmouth is being
withdrawn from the Police Budget Fund?
If that is correct, the public needs to be
informed.
Posted by lawintern84 (anonymous) on December 16, 2009 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Summerrain great question. Why don't you go to the next Council meeting and ask the Mayor in person and while you are at it ask Councilman Frank Murphy when he intends to turnover the $5000.00 along with the several thousand dollars worth of Star War and G.I. Joe collectables donated specifically for the RO-NA at the white elephant sale going on two years ago. Ask Mr. Murphy if we wrote checks to him should we sue to get our donations to the RO-NA back to insure they are appropriately applied to the restoration and not his motorcycle.
Posted by summerrain (anonymous) on December 17, 2009 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lawintern84 - Why don't you go? It is your question.
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