By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — A police officer who released his police K-9 on a surrendering truck driver was not fired for deploying the K-9, but rather for violating multiple policies during a review of the incident, WBNS reports.
According to documents from the Circleville Police Department, Chief Shawn Baer told Officer Ryan Speakman on July 19 that he was informed to “stop going around to everyone talking about the deployment.”
Speakman, who joined the Circleville PD in February 2020, deployed his police K-9 following a lengthy pursuit on July 4 involving the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The incident was captured on a police body camera.
On July 20, a report was composed by Baer, stating that Speakman informed him about confiding in other CPD employees solely regarding the incident. Subsequently, Speakman received an internal investigation notice and was slated for an interview on the subsequent day. Later, Speakman disclosed to Baer that he had also conversed with his father and “possibly someone else in his family,” but assured that was the extent of his communication.
According to the documents, Speakman presented a two-page list of individuals outside of CPD with whom he conversed on July 21. Investigators then engaged in discussions with Speakman regarding the people mentioned in the lists, in relation to the incident and review board. Subsequently, Speakman disclosed the involvement of two additional individuals in his conversations.
In light of the ongoing investigation into the officer’s conduct, wherein he disclosed confidential information and provided deceptive responses during questioning, Baer made the decision to place Speakman on administrative leave.
In the meeting on July 21, Speakman acknowledged that the list of people he had spoken to was “huge” and expressed regret, admitting that he should have known better.
Three days thereafter, a deputy chief directed two detectives to personally deliver a letter to Speakman’s residence. According to the documents, upon reading the letter, Speakman became visibly upset.
On July 24, Speakman received a letter notifying him of a scheduled pre-disciplinary conference to be held the following day. The letter also outlined three department policies that he was accused of violating: Failure to disclose or misrepresenting material facts or making any false or misleading statements on any application, examination form or other official document, report or form, or during the course of any work-related investigation, criminal, dishonest or disgraceful conduct that adversely affects the member’s relationship with the department and dishonest or dishonest actions.
On July 26, the police department announced the officer’s termination stating, “Speakman’s actions during the review of his canine apprehension of Rose on July 4 shows that Officer Speakman did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers.”
The town’s civilian police review board found Speakman didn’t violate department policy when he deployed the dog, adding that the review board doesn’t have the authority to recommend discipline.