Butler Co. deputy fired after sexual imposition charges

Michael Baker, the Butler County Sheriff's deputy accused of sex crimes involving a minor, was terminated after a Thursday hearing, according to a release from the sheriff's office.

The decision was made to fire Baker after an internal investigation and Thursday hearing, according to the release. The criminal case remains under investigation.

Baker, 44, was charged with sexual imposition, a third-degree misdemeanor, involving a 16-year-old Hamilton girl, and jailed Monday.

The relative of the victim who reported Baker to police claims the misconduct with the girl has been occurring for more than year.

Baker, of Hamilton, has been with the sheriff's office for 18 years.

Melissa Gerhardt, spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said that to their knowledge none of the inappropriate contact happened while Baker was on duty.

Previous disciplinary actions have been taken against Baker, including two suspensions, according to a personnel file obtained Tuesday by The Enquirer.

Baker's most recent suspension was on June 11, 2008. He was suspended for 24 hours for unspecified actions during a crash investigation.

Baker was also suspended for eight hours after he crashed a police cruiser March 3, 2004, according to his file. The resulting damage from the crash, which occurred in Ross Township, cost the department $2,204.72, records show.

The records also show that Baker received numerous commendations for exemplary workplace attendance. He also received an award in October 2010.

But there were other transgression when Baker served as a dispatcher: He failed to follow proper protocol in several instances and had a "neglect" complaint filed against him for it.

March 3, 2001 - Baker was the responding dispatcher for a phone harassment complaint. He advised an officer would respond to the complainant, but one did not. Baker did not send an officer because the call was "forgotten," according to the records.

Audio of 911 tapes revealed during a previous call that Baker admitted to being very tired, according to his personnel file.

"This is unacceptable ... Employees shall be physically and mentally fit to perform their duties," wrote the then-Butler County Dispatch Manager Bonnie Short. "Dispatcher Baker's own statement that he was 'very tired' is indicative of his inabilities to perform his duties as a dispatcher. Evaluation of his time spent as a Special Deputy needs to be addressed so that it no longer conflicts with his full-time duties as a dispatcher for the Sheriff's Office."

March 16, 2001 - A caller in New Miami, Ohio, requested an officer because her son had just run away. According to Baker's personnel file, Baker confirmed the caller's address but took no additional information. As a result, an officer did not respond for more than two hours.

Baker responded to the report of his error in a letter, saying the call was "not an emergency."

"The caller plainly states, 'My son just ran away,' " Short wrote. "This is an emergency to this caller, additional information should have been taken from the caller regarding personal and clothing description."

May 25, 2001 - Did not follow protocol for dispatching an ambulance to an emergency. Caller eventually decided to transport wife to an emergency room by private vehicle after an ambulance did not arrive.







