June 23, 2004
Dayton Daily News

Eaton says chief gave out classified data
He got information from LEADS

EATON | Eaton officials Monday acknowledged Police Chief Philip L. Romeo shared classified information with the school district superintendent about a Dayton Daily News vehicle used during a statewide public records project.

It is against Ohio law for law enforcement officials to share information with the public from the Law Enforcement Automated Data System.

LEADS Administrator Staff Sgt. James Hamilton of the Ohio Highway Patrol said Tuesday his office has finished its investigation into whether the Eaton Police Division shared information from the system about a car driven by reporter Joanne Smith.

Hamilton said he couldn't disclose findings until after the LEADS review board meets in September.

LEADS, an electronic communication network, is used by law enforcement, courts and prosecutors to retrieve information about driving records, vehicle ownership and outstanding warrants.

If the board finds LEADS information was used improperly, the Eaton Police Division would be required to take disciplinary action, up to termination, against the person responsible, LEADS officials have said.

Smith visited Eaton as part of a project to gauge the ease in obtaining public records. More than 90 media representatives visited school districts, police departments and county and city offices in each of Ohio's 88 counties April 21. The auditors did not identify themselves unless asked. Ohio law doesn't require identification to obtain public records.

Romeo told council members Monday that he called Eaton school Superintendent Joe Deluca after calling schools Treasurer Virginia Welch to reassure them about Smith, having already run her plate through LEADS.

"Merely telling the school district that 'Don't worry, it's a member of the media,' may indeed have been a technical oversight, but one I am willing to take responsibility for because I did it myself," Romeo said.

City Manager Dave Daily said he told LEADS officials he supported Romeo.

Commentary:
How is it that the news that the Shelby Co. Sheriff and Sidney Daily News are under investigation by a special prosecutor for the release of classified data about concealed handgun license-holders can be ignored by this newspaper, yet the DDN cries foul when their protected information is unlawfully disseminated?

OFCC notified the DDN of the appointment of Gary Nasal as special prosecutor on Wenesday, June 16. Two days later, the Associated Press issued a story announcing same. The DDN and most other Ohio newspapers ignored the story, choosing instead to focus on word that delays at sheriffs' offices have succeeded in diminishing numbers of CHL applications in some areas.

"Publicize everything!"

"Protect our classified data!"

They can't have it both ways.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for a letter to the DDN editor offering an alternative viewpoint to the Ohio Newspaper Association's "stand" on public records.

June 22, 2004
Toledo Blade

Rita Dipman had seen enough, heard enough. When it started to happen to her on Sunday, she was ready.
"If people don't fight back, it's gonna continue," she said.

On Sunday afternoon, Ms. Dipman, 52, was eating at the Subway sandwich store on Main Street in East Toledo with her 3-year-old granddaughter when a man robbed the store.

Seeing the commotion, Ms. Dipman scooped up her granddaughter and fled, but the fleeing robber caught up with them, brandished a knife, and then tried to grab Ms. Dipman's purse.

He might have picked on the wrong grandmother.

"He yanked and I yanked back," Ms. Dipman said. "I wasn't gonna let this guy get the better of me. I was gonna protect my granddaughter, and I wasn't gonna let him hurt me."

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

June 22, 2004
Toledo Blade

FINDLAY - Police are investigating two incidents in which newspaper carriers were assaulted while doing their route.

Thursday, a woman was assaulted and knocked to the ground while delivering papers in the 200 block of East Wallace Street about 5 a.m.

Two days earlier, a young girl delivering papers in the 200 block of Lester Avenue was knocked to the ground by a man fitting the same description: a white male, 20 to 30 years old, 6 feet tall, with a medium build. He was wearing khaki shorts and a dark shirt on Thursday.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Findlay/Hancock County Crime Stoppers hotline, 419-425-TIPS.

Commentary:
Although the specific paper these carriers work for is not identified in this story, this is certainly a good opportunity to remind interested readers that the Findlay Courier has posted discriminatory signs banning CHL-holders.

The Dayton Daily News also disarms employees, and has had two carriers carjacked in the past few months.