Cincinnati’s WDTN.com is reporting that as Butler Co. Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Roberts struggles to recover from gunshot wound he received during a pursuit of two violent robbers armed with a 12 gauge shotgun, circumstances for an off-duty police officer who witnessed the entire event are going much differently.

Camden police chief Mike Croucher is being called a hero after witnessing an armed robbery, following the suspects in his private automobile, and radioing ahead to warn Butler County Sheriff’s deputies this week.

From the story:

A hero is given a surprise reward. Wednesday, Mike Croucher was acting police chief.

Now, he's Camden's newest full-fledged chief.

He got the promotion on Thursday, just one day after witnessing a robbery at a B.P. in Camden.

Croucher was off duty and was not armed.

Still, he got in his car, notified a dispatcher and followed the suspects down to Butler County.

That's where the suspects allegedly shot a Deputy Brandon Roberts, and stole his cruiser.

Croucher radioed for help.

Without a firearm, this off-duty police officer was rendered as incapable of offering adequate assistance in this emergency as any other defenseless citizen. This is a very hard way to learn the lesson that it is irresponsible to carry a firearm only when expecting trouble.

While explaining the promotion, Mayor Mary Melton told WDTN that "after yesterday, I said to call him acting chief is a slap in the face. We need to change that, and so that's what we did."

Croucher is quoted as saying "it's just a big shock. It's really a surprise. I wasn't expecting this. I've got other things on my mind. Butler County's got one of their deputies lying over there."

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Indeed.

Again, from the story:

Chief Croucher says his only regret was not having his gun with him at the time.

He says he wasn't used to carrying a weapon when off duty, and going out of town.

But, he says he will in the future.

He just hopes Deputy Roberts continues to recover at Miami Valley Hospital.

Hindsight is always clearer, and we would never presume to predict how this tragedy might have turned out had Croucher been armed. However, we hope that Croucher’s poor choice will serve as a lesson to other off-duty police officers, to the various departments that refuse to allow their officers the ability to carry when off-duty, and of course to Ohio citizens in general.

Since the new concealed carry law went into effect an estimated 50,000 people have applied for and received the licenses because they already understand the principle Chief Croucher just learned - "you never know".

Click on the “Read More…” link below for some other examples of why those most at risk should apply for and carry a concealed handgun just for the simple reason..."you never know when an attack might occur".

In a county sheriff's office plagued by corruption, the Youngstown Vindicator is reporting that a Mahoning County deputy sheriff who continues to live with a felon may be fired pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs investigation, according to Sheriff Randall A. Wellington.

From the story:

Wellington said Wednesday that Deputy Kim Marciano's relationship with 28-year-old Larese Jones, convicted of robbery in 2002, is a violation of department policy. The sheriff said deputies cannot associate with felons in any way.

Marciano and Jones live in a Wampum Drive house on the city's West Side. Marciano and her husband, a city police officer, are getting a divorce.

Wellington said Marciano, 42, has been with the sheriff's department since March 1994. She is a sister of Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr., a candidate for mayor. Reached Wednesday, Bush had no comment.

This is only the latest of several corrupt officials to have had troubles with the law in Mahoning County in recent memory. When it comes to administration of the concealed carry law, a different kind of corruption appears to be coming from the very top.

According to Attorney General Petro's 2004 annual report, the Mahoning County sheriff's office issued 1.77% of the licenses issued in the state (18th overall), but had 8.49% of the denials (2nd overall) - a denial rate of 1 denial for every 21.8 concealed handgun licenses issued. The only county with more denials was Hamilton. However, that county issued 173% of the licenses that Mahoning did. Initial calculations suggest that Mahoning County has, by far, has the highest denial per issuance rate in the state.

OFCC has been notified of several instances of CHL-holders who say they have been forced to wait months and months before receiving their licenses in this county. Instances of denials for non-disqualifying reasons are also being reported to OFCC.

Judging by these reports, civil rights proponents and Internal Affairs officials need to be looking out for CHL-applicants in Mahoning Co. every bit as much as they do for prison inmates or wayward deputies.

22 April, 2005
Portsmouth Times

On April 8th, 2004 the State of Ohio joined over 40 other states that allow it’s law-abiding citizens the right to the means to afford them the right of personal protection. The overturning of the 150-year-old ban to carry a concealed handgun was finally lifted when Governor Taft signed H.B. 12 into law on January 7th, 2004. In the first 9 months of the new law over 45,000 law-abiding citizens have jumped through the legal hoops to obtain their concealed handgun licenses.

Obtaining a concealed handgun license (CHL) is not as easy as one might think since Ohio has some of the most restrictive requirements in the nation. First one must take a concealed handgun class consisting of 10 hours of classroom instruction AND two hours of range time and pass a hands on and written test, second make application to the sheriff’s office or one of an adjoining county, third pass a Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation background check, have finger prints made, photos made, electronic signature taken, and read the Attorney General’s pamphlet, pay a $45 fee for those who have lived in Ohio for over five years and more if you have lived in Ohio less than five years, and wait up to 45 days before a license is issued.

As in other states we shall see the rate of violent crimes reduce in number within the next three years. No statistics will show just how much a CHL will reduce the amount of violent crimes due to the thoughts of a potential criminal, “does he or she have a concealed handgun on them?”. According to the Attorney General of Ohio, Scioto County ranked 23rd in the issuance of CHL’s during the last 9 months of 2004 issuing 654 concealed handgun licenses.

Numerous county sheriffs all over the state have done their level best to deter law-abiding citizens from obtaining their concealed handgun licenses by restricting applications to being accepted only on certain days or just one day per week and by making only certain hours available for appointments and by flat out denying accepting those applications.

The citizens of Scioto county should proud and honored by having Sheriff Donini be OUR leading law enforcement officer. Thank you Sheriff Donini and your staff for a “job well done”.

Rick Jones
Sciotoville

Editors' note: Rick Jones is OFCC's Senate District 14 Coordinator.