CONTINUING COVERAGE
The Dayton Daily News used Ohio public records law to obtain communication between Riverside city officials and will continue to dig into this story as it develops.
Police Chief Frank Robinson told his supervisors the actions of a city councilman were “creating a hostile work environment” for him, emails obtained by this newspaper show.
Robinson’s email, sent to Interim City Manager James Percival and copied to Mayor Bill Flaute, describes a June 8 conversation between him and Councilman Steve Fullenkamp about a resident’s criminal charge.
Resident Thomas H. Ralston, 53, of East Fourth Street, pleaded not guilty to a charge of menacing by stalking stemming from a June 3 incident with neighbors. Ralston said he is suspicious of his neighbors due to “an ungodly amount of traffic” there. He is accused of looking into their residence using night vision goggles and binoculars.
On June 3, Fullenkamp and Robinson spoke by phone about Ralston.
“Mr. Fullenkamp did not agree with the charges being filed on Mr. Ralston and I advised him that the officer felt he had enough information to issue him a summons,” Robinson wrote.
Later, on June 7, Fullenkamp requested the police provide him with audio and video information from the scene. Robinson responded in an email to the full council.
The next day at the city offices, Fullenkamp and Robinson engaged in a heated discussion.
Robinson wrote he “disagreed with (the) fact that he had interjected himself into a criminal case in which it appears that he is taking sides.”
Fullenkamp, the police chief said, was not happy about the reply being sent to the council.
“Mr. Fullenkamp became very agitated and stated ‘You want to play these games then we will play them,’” Robinson wrote, adding, “He then stated that me copying in Council on his e-mail was a PUNK move. … I consider his comments about playing games to be a threat towards my employment, and consider his actions to be creating a hostile work environment.”
Fullenkamp, who learned about the chief’s email through this news organization’s inquiry, said the police chief’s recollection is “approximately true.”
“He interprets this as a threat to his employment, so, OK, that’s his interpretation,” Fullenkamp said
“There’s nothing in there that’s untrue,” he added. “I’m sure this is a warning shot over my bow and I get that.”
Council will meet tonight at 6 p.m. and is scheduled to meet in executive session. Fullenkamp said if the issue is discussed in executive session, he reserves his right to bring the discussion out into the public.
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