COLUMBUS – The Columbus Division of Police is disbanding its scandal-plagued vice unit.
Assignments to the Vice Section, which fall under the Narcotics Bureau, will be abolished to make way for more “community-centered approach,” Interim Chief Tom Quinlan said in a statement on the division’s social media pages Tuesday.
CPD Announces Major Change in Narcotics Bureau-abolishing Vice Section assignments which fall under the Narcotics Bureau. Vice-related crimes will be addressed using a community-centered approach.
Tonight Chief Quinlan met w/remaining Vice officers who will seek new assignments. pic.twitter.com/FFV0uFt5hj— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) March 20, 2019
“It has become clear that there is a better method of addressing the community’s needs when it comes to the enforcement of prostitution, alcohol and gambling,” Quinlan said.
The vice squad has been the subject of internal and external investigations over improper arrests, such as that of adult film star Stormy Daniels in July, and the shooting death of a suspected prostitute by a veteran officer who is under indictment on charges that he held women against their will and forced them to perform sex acts to avoid being arrested.
Quinlan’s decision got the support of Mayor Andrew Ginther who said the vice unit had “lost the public’s trust.”
“While change and reform are hard, they are necessary if we want to be the best of the best,” Ginther said in a written statement issued by his office.
“I applaud Chief Quinlan’s decision to disband the Vice Unit, recognizing the Unit has lost the public’s trust. I also commend the dedicated, hardworking officers of our Police Division who dedicate their lives to safer neighborhoods across Columbus. While change and reform are hard, they are necessary if we want to be the best of the best. I look forward to Chief Quinlan’s work to create new units that better serve the community’s needs. Our residents should be assured that laws like liquor violations will continue to be enforced with greater scrutiny and in the context of community-oriented policing.” -Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther
Several officers have been placed on administrative leave during the investigations.
Quinlan says he met with the 10 remaining officers of the Vice Section and issued them assignment abolishment notices. Some have already voluntarily transferred to new assignments.
Quinlan says he reassigned three officers from the unit prior to issuing abolishment notices to the remaining seven, who will be given the opportunity to seek reassignment.