FAQ: July 19 Officer-Involved Shooting

Q. What is the status of Police Officer Raymond Tensing?

A. Immediately following Officer Tensing’s indictment by the Hamilton County grand jury, the University of Cincinnati terminated Officer Tensing.

When the shooting occurred, the University immediately requested that the Cincinnati Police Department conduct a full investigation. Information collected from the initial investigation, including the videotape from Officer Tensing’s body camera, was turned over to the Office of the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney. Officer Tensing was initially placed on administrative leave pending the investigation and was terminated when the indictment was announced on July 29.

Q. Did the University support the release of the video to the family and the public?

A. The University of Cincinnati is among the first campus police departments to use body-cameras. The University was fully ready to release the video to the public. However, the Hamilton County Prosecutor determined that the video would not be released until the prosecutor’s investigation was complete and the grand jury had rendered its decision. President Ono also asked the prosecutor to allow the family to view the video prior to the grand jury decision. The prosecutor shared the video with the family in the hours prior to the news conference announcing the grand jury ruling.

President Ono has indicated the University is pleased that the body-camera video was finally made public and it has proven to be a major development in the judicial process. While the video is incredibly disturbing, it is important that we all have the opportunity to see it. It ultimately provides greater transparency and helps us to obtain the truth.

Q: What is the status of Officers Kidd and Lindenschmidt in relation to the police report and the body-camera videos?

The Hamilton County Prosecutor announced on July 31 that neither officer will be indicted. Both officers are on paid administrative leave while UC’s internal investigation, conducted by an external expert (Kroll Inc.), is conducted.

Q. Is the University taking any steps to better train its police personnel in light of the death of Samuel DuBose?

A. Before this tragedy, UC had already begun to engage in a process of providing additional training to its police related to field training, urban policing, use of force, bias, procedural justice and Title IX. The University is committed to fast-tracking this additional training and will complete an external review of the police department and take steps to ensure that UC is applying best practices. It is important to point out that all UC police officers receive the same state-required training as other municipal law enforcement officers.

Q: Will the university participate in the Cincinnati Collaborative Agreement?

A. The university is considering the potential of participating in the Cincinnati Collaborative Agreement, a 2002 city plan to improve police-community relationships.

Q. Why are only four of 72 police officers on the University of Cincinnati police force African-American?

A. There is no question that the UC police department has not done an effective job of recruiting, hiring and retaining officers who are members of under-represented groups. The current chief, Jason Goodrich, hired In October 2014, is fully committed to making our public safety department more diverse.

Q. Why was the university police force working off campus? How common is it? Do other university police officers work off campus?

A. UC has a

memorandum of understanding (MOU)

with the City of Cincinnati. This agreement permits UC police officers to patrol neighborhoods surrounding the university’s Uptown Campus. However, on July 20 the University temporarily suspended until further notice off-campus patrols. UC Police will continue to travel city streets between UC’s multiple campuses.

Q. Has the University reached out to the community in the aftermath of the killing of Samuel DuBose? Do you plan any ongoing efforts?

A. The University is working with the City of Cincinnati and community leaders to determine how to best move the city and university communities forward. UC President Ono and UC Police Chief Jason Goodrich met with the City of Cincinnati Manager’s Advisory Group. As a result of that meeting, the university is moving forward with the creation of a community advisory panel to work directly with the UC Police Department. The president, chief, and other members of UC’s leadership team have also met with African American pastors.

Q. Was an appropriate background check done on Officer Tensing? What were the results?

A.  UC’s Police follows industry standards for the hiring of new officers. This includes extensive polygraph and background checks as well as a home visit.

Q. Has anyone from the university met with the family of Samuel DuBose?

A. UC Police Chief Jason Goodrich met with family members on July 20. UC President Santa Ono extended the university’s condolences in public statements and reached out to the mother of Mr. DuBose by phone. The president also attended the visitation for Mr. DuBose. President Ono, the chief and other members of university executive leadership met with Mr. DuBose’s mother and other family members on July 29.