Police denounce detective's use of racial slur

PERKINS TWP. — Local law enforcement officials said it is "never OK" for a police officer use racial slurs.This comes after the Oct. 12 resignation of Erie County sheriff's detective Justin Smith, a 13-year veteran, who allegedly used a racial epithet to describe a local black attorney, according to an internal investigation done by the sheriff's office.Smith was at a bar Oct. 2 with local law enforcement officers following a training seminar for narcotics detectives when somebody brought up Geoff Oglesby, of the firm Oglesby and Oglesby on West Washington Street in Sandusky. Smith, who was allegedly drunk, referred to Oglesby as "that f-----g (racial slur)," according to Sheriff Paul Sigsworth.The Register was told of the incident by a confidential source and made a public records request for any disciplinary records for Smith. Sigsworth said he learned of the incident shortly after the four-day seminar concluded and placed Smith on administrative leave Oct. 5. Smith was allowed to resign in lieu of being terminated, he said.Sigsworth said Smith's actions were unbecoming of a "member of our agency.""This behavior was so offensive and so egregious that it just couldn't be tolerated," Sigsworth said. "It's never OK for a law enforcement officer to use that word."Sandusky police Chief John Orzech said some of his officers were at the seminar and heard Smith use the racial epithet. Orzech said the actions of one officer can damage law enforcement as a whole."We've worked very hard in our community to bridge relationships in the minority community," he said. "All the local agencies have been working very hard to bridge relationships and that will continue."Law enforcement officers in training are taught not to use racially insensitive language.Sgt. Ken Rankins, commander of the Sandusky Police Academy, said officers in training take a mandatory ethics and professionalism course early on in training, along with a community diversity course that he teaches."So within the first couple weeks of the academy we have it instilled in them," Rankins said.These classes have been required in Ohio law enforcement training since the Los Angeles riots and the infamous Rodney King incident in the 1990s, he said.Geoff Oglesby said he accepted an in-person apology from Sigsworth this past week, who told him of the incident shortly after it happened.Oglesby said he was "shocked" by Smith's remarks."Three generations of attorneys (in my family) and at the end of the day, I'm not only a (racial slur), I'm a f-----g (racial slur)," Oglesby said.He was especially "stunned" since he and Smith have never met."I don't even know the guy," Oglesby said.Smith's actions are an example of racial prejudice against blacks by police, he said."If a police officer won't respect a third-generation attorney, you think they'll respect some kid on the street?" Oglesby said. "This is what young black males are complaining about, this is what taking the knee is all about."Oglesby said he has to treat the situation as a "non-issue" and that Sigsworth "had nothing to apologize for." "It is what it is," he said. "What are you going to do?"More Erie County Sheriff's Office articlesReach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterSmith's remarks were allegedly directed at Geoff Oglesby, an attorney with the firm Oglesby and Oglesby in Sandusky.