Randy Ludlow
The Columbus Dispatch
A 24-year veteran of the State Highway Patrol has left the force amid an investigation of his conduct with a 16-year-old girl.
Patrol officials attempted to serve Staff Lt. Roger Norris with a termination letter from Public Safety Director Thomas Strickrath yesterday, said Lt. Gary Lewis, patrol spokesman. But Norris told officials that, after his hearing on internal charges Friday, he had notified the patrol retirement system that he was retiring effective last Saturday, Lewis said.
Norris, 43, faced dismissal on patrol charges of making false statements, conduct unbecoming an officer, improper use of equipment and failure to follow orders.
Norris denied any wrongdoing during an on-duty meeting with the 16-year-old on June 8, when a property caretaker found Norris and the girl in his parked cruiser behind a building in rural Belmont County about 5:30 p.m.
The man did not see any illicit activity but told investigators that Norris was not wearing his uniform shirt or gun belt. Norris said the girl had baby-sat for his family and that he had coached her in softball.
A patrol investigation concluded that Norris told differing stories about his reasons for meeting the girl and disobeyed a superior’s order not to contact the girl and her family once the investigation began.
The Belmont County sheriff’s office, which is conducting a criminal investigation, provided the patrol with records showing that Norris and the girl exchanged 182 text messages between 5:29 a.m. and 5:27 p.m. on June 8. Norris initially said he did not recall the messages.
Norris, a married father of five who lives in St. Clairsville, was commander of the area patrol post until he was reassigned to Columbus headquarters early this year. On Feb. 5, he was promoted to staff lieutenant and assigned as a field inspector in eastern Ohio. He has not responded to requests for comment.
The sheriff’s office investigation is continuing, detective Ryan Allar said yesterday.
Copyright 2010 The Columbus Dispatch