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Tension is growing between a member of council and the police chief, according to interviews with city leaders.
Councilman Steven Fullenkamp said he spoke last Wednesday with Police Chief Frank Robinson to obtain information about a police matter impacting a local resident.
“I requested some information and he objected to me requesting this information,” Fullenkamp said, declining to identify what or who the request regarded. “I made it perfectly clear not to worry, the justice system would run its course.”
City Council will meet for a work session and council meeting and executive session Thursday at 6 p.m. Such executive sessions may be called for the purpose of “the investigation of … complaints against a city employee or official.”
Although city code does not specify such complaints need to be made in writing, this newspaper filed a public record request under Ohio law for any complaints filed by Robinson against Fullenkamp.
“I spoke with the Law Director Dalma Grandjean in regard to your records request,” Robinson responded by email. “She is looking over all the information and will get back with me in reference to releasing the information you have requested. As you know it is public record and it will be provided to you if there are no exceptions.”
Grandjean responded by phone late afternoon Tuesday.
“I have looked into the matter and conclude the city of Riverside does not have a record responsive to your request,” she said.
Fullenkamp and Robinson have had “run-ins” in the past, the councilman said. Among those issues, Fullenkamp said he disagreed with the police chief regarding a change to the color of patrol vehicles and the establishment of a Narcan program for drug users.
WHIO-TV reporter Caroline Reinwald contributed to this report.
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