Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Veteran Ohio Officer Steals Drugs and Overdoses

A 15-year-veteran police officer is suspected of stealing drugs from the police station and overdosing.

The patrolman overdosed in late-May at his home in Summit County and was rushed to the hospital, Chief Rick Porrello said. The officer resigned from his job but is exhausting his sick hours until sometime next month, the chief said.

The Summit County Sheriff's Office notified Porrello when deputies found the officer at his home. He declined to name the drug taken by the officer because of the ongoing investigation, but said it was small amount, the chief said.

The officer recovered.

Porrello said he was shocked when he learned the drugs may have been taken from the police headquarters. He described the cop as a good officer who will face consequences for his bad decision.

"He will be held accountable criminally," Porrello said. "He will no longer be a police officer in Lyndhurst or anywhere for that matter."

Porrello asked the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation to investigate the case. The inquiry is nearly over and will be given to prosecutors, he said.

"He was a great cop," Porello added. "Nobody had any idea that he would make a choice like that."

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