Article published September 11, 2009
Police chief suspension spurs halt of D.A.R.E.; classes to restart in spring
Police Chief Kathleen Hartle is accused of having an open container of alcohol in her patrol vehicle.
By BRIDGET THARP
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Anthony Wayne School District has suspended its D.A.R.E. program because the police officer in charge of the drug-prevention classes, Chief Kathleen Hartle of Waterville Township police, was suspended from her job after being accused of public intoxication and having an open container of alcohol in her patrol vehicle.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., is a police-led series that uses classroom lessons to coach children from kindergarten through 12th grade to resist drugs and alcohol.
The D.A.R.E. classes likely will resume in the spring with a new officer, Anthony Wayne Superintendent John Granger said. Fifth graders were scheduled to start the program this month.
Chief Hartle joined the township police in 2000 and became chief in November, 2007.
She has served as the D.A.R.E. officer for Anthony Wayne Schools for seven years, according to the township Web site.
Mr. Granger said he was surprised to hear of the allegations against the police chief.
"Officer Hartle always seemed to have a good relationship with the teachers and the children," Mr. Granger said.
"There were no complaints about her delivery of the D.A.R.E. program."
The school district will consider contracting with Whitehouse police or the Lucas County Sheriff's Office for their next D.A.R.E. officer.
Whitehouse police already provide a school resource officer for the junior high and high school, so a contract with the village "could be a nice fit," Mr. Granger said.
"I don't want to alienate the Waterville Township trustees," Mr. Granger said. "They've done a great job of providing a quality D.A.R.E. program for many years and if they want to continue that, we would stick with them."
Chief Hartle was suspended with pay Wednesday. She is accused of public intoxication while on duty and possession of an open container of alcohol in a patrol vehicle.
Township police refused yesterday to release a report regarding the incident.
Waterville Township trustees spent an hour with Chief Hartle behind closed doors Wednesday at the start of their regularly scheduled meeting. She was accused in writing of public intoxication and possession of an open bottle of liquor while on duty Aug. 26.
Chief Hartle declined to comment immediately after she met with the trustees Wednesday.
The problem began when she was asked to leave the township meeting on Aug. 26, trustee Les Disher said.
Trustees hold two meetings per month and the chief is typically expected to attend one of them.
The trustees could tell something was wrong when she arrived at the meeting last month, Mr. Disher said.
"I'm not saying she was intoxicated," Mr. Disher said.
"She wasn't able to basically speak. We went into adjournment and she was removed from the room."
She was put on sick leave with pay after the meeting.
A special executive session was held Aug. 27 with an attorney to "consider the investigation of charges against a public employee," the minutes said.
The attorney - Cheryl Wolff of the Toledo firm Spengler Nathanson - specializes in defending employers facing allegations of discrimination, according to her professional biography online.
Chief Hartle will remain on sick leave with pay until the matter is discussed during the next township meeting, Sept. 23.
The discussion will be public unless Chief Hartle exercises her right to request a private executive session, township attorney Walter Celley said.
Township trustees will oversee the internal investigation into the accusations against the police chief.
Township trustees Chairman Brett Warner, who is also the D.A.R.E. officer for the Lucas County Sheriff's Department, declined to discuss details of the incident.
"In township government, the trustees hear the evidence. It would be inappropriate to discuss the case when I'm going to hear the case," Mr. Warner said. "The evidence will be discussed at the hearing."
The accusations against Chief Hartle represent an internal investigation, and Waterville Township has not filed criminal charges against her, acting chief Sgt. Eric Varner told The Blade.
He was unaware of any other incidents involving the chief, and police reports that detail the incident are being withheld pending the internal investigation, the sergeant said.
"I really can't comment any further," he said.
Contact Bridget Tharp at:
btharp@theblade.com
or 419-724-6086.
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