University of Cincinnati police chief investigating faculty love triangle asked out witness. 3 times.

The former University of Cincinnati police chief who resigned on Thanksgiving improperly injected himself into an investigation of threats involving married faculty members, according to a report released by UC on Friday.

Anthony Carter repeatedly asked out the female faculty member involved in the case, the report says. He sent her 171 texts, some "inherently flirtatious," and called her 11 times over 36 days.

The woman told investigators she kept responding to Carter because of “fear of upsetting the chief of police.”

Carter remains employed at UC as a researcher.

Carter's attorney, Brian Redden, told The Enquirer on Friday: "We disagree with what’s in the report. We disagree that he was trying to elicit any sort of relationship with this woman."

But the co-founder of a sexual assault survivor advocacy group on campus said the incident is a prime example of “rape culture thriving at UC.”

“(Carter) is in a position of power and is found responsible for sexually harassing a colleague… and he’s offered another position at the university,” Grace Cunningham said. “I’m angry, but I’m also not surprised.”

The UC incident comes amid almost daily national news reports about men accused of sexual harassment across the media and entertainment industries as well as in politics.

The university released the report of external consultant Exiger's investigation into the incident Friday in response to an Enquirer public records request. UC also released other records regarding Carter's departure, which show that he was sent a termination letter on Nov. 22, the day before Thanksgiving.

On Monday, Nov. 27, after the Thanksgiving break, Carter appealed his termination to UC's general counsel.

On the same day the appeal was filed, UC lawyers found the improper behavior did not warrant being fired. The documents don't detail how that decision was reached. Carter submitted a resignation letter on Nov. 27, backdated to Nov. 23.

On Nov. 27, Robin Engel, UC's vice president for safety and reform, accepted the resignation. Carter's personnel file shows that same day Engel wrote a letter of recommendation for him praising his accomplishments as chief. She said he helped rewrite the police department's mission statement, worked to increase diversity within the department and successfully handled a plan for a campus protest by Westboro Baptist Church.

Carter is among six finalists seeking to be the new police chief for the city of Fairfield.

On Nov. 28, the university announced Carter would take on a research role in the UC Institute of Crime Science. His employment will end on Sept. 23, 2018, the records indicate. He will be paid $114,750, which is the same monthly rate as his $137,700 annual salary as chief.

The university has declined to answer questions surrounding Carter's change of position. When asked about Carter remaining at the university, spokesman Greg Vehr said UC had no comment. UC President Neville Pinto could not be immediately reached for comment Friday. Engel did not return phone calls.

Said UC trustees chair Tom Cassady: "This is not a board issue.'

The initial UC Police investigation involved threats that the woman's estranged husband, also a faculty member, made toward a third faculty member with whom she was allegedly involved.

The Exiger report does not name any of the faculty members, but it includes a substantial amount of detail about its findings.

Carter began to contact the wife directly – bypassing the investigating officer and three levels of supervisors to become personally involved in the case – after meeting her in person, the report says.

Among his texts to the wife: "I've seen that smile and had the pleasure of a few conversations and you need to keep both going."

When she expressed concern about her contract being jeopardized by the situation with her husband and the other man, Carter responded: "I think you'll be fine but I'm not the final decision maker."

After this response that suggested the chief had some influence on the woman's employment status, the Exiger report said, he went on to invite her to attend a Bengals game.

Redden, Carter's attorney, said Carter left a line of communication open as a professional courtesy after closing the initial police investigation into the husband's threats, and the woman "regularly reached out" to him. He said the woman must have "misinterpreted" Carter's "friendly gestures" and that she was the one mentioned the concept of a "date" or "romantic relationship," which he immediately corrected.

Redden said Carter never asked the woman to accompany him to any event in a romantic fashion and informed her he was not interested, according to Carter's appeal. Carter also denied that he abused his position as chief for personal gain and denied that he failed to follow proper procedure in investigating this issue.

Exiger concluded in its report:

Carter “unnecessarily and without precedent” injected himself into the investigation after meeting the woman in person.

On three occasions, “Carter inappropriately” asked the woman to attend social activities, conduct that “constituted inappropriate interaction between Carter, acting as an investigating officer, and a vulnerable witness in the investigation he was conducting.”

Carter “unnecessarily and inappropriately maintained extended and extensive contact” with the woman, “well beyond any investigative imperative.”

He led the woman to believe that he was acting on behalf of the university in assessing her and her husband’s professional standing.

Carter unnecessarily put the woman in fear for her safety by overstating danger to her.

“In sum, we find that while Carter may have been concerned about the overall well-being of (the woman), he engaged in inappropriate conduct that was motivated at least in part by a desire to further his own personal interest rather than by a legitimate concern for the safety and security of the (the woman), other faculty or students, as called for in his role as chief of police,” the report said.

Exiger is the firm that is facilitating the department's reforms following the 2015 fatal shooting of a black man by a white UC police officer. Carter, a former Cincinnati police officer, was hired a year and a half ago as part of those reforms, replacing former chief Jason Goodrich. Goodrich and his assistant chief resigned after a critical Exiger report on the department’s policing strategy.

Timeline of events from the Exiger report

Sept. 1: University of Cincinnati Vice Provost of Academic Affairs Matthew Serra reports a conversation with a male faculty member to UC Director of Public Safety James Whalen. Serra says the man told him that he discovered photos of his wife (also a faculty member) with another faculty member in a sexual setting. The husband told Serra that if he saw the other man on campus he would “kill him,” Serra says. Whalen is out sick and passes the matter on to UC Police Chief Anthony Carter.

Sept. 5: Carter either assigns or instructs one of his subordinates to give the case to Detective Jennifer McMahon. McMahon, a female detective, speaks with the husband and wife and attempts to contact the other man. The husband tells her he said it in the heat of the moment and would not harm the other man. Wife denies having an affair and says she does not think her husband will act violently. But after the meeting, the wife texts McMahon, indicating that she had not been entirely truthful. McMahon asks to set up a second call, which never occurred. McMahon relays the information to Carter, who says McMahon should speak with the wife again. McMahon believes that besides talking to wife again, the matter is resolved.

Sept. 6: Carter attends an on-campus demonstration by the Westboro Baptist Church. The wife is there taking video of the event. Carter approaches her and asks her to call him about the investigation. Carter sends an email to the wife later that day, asking her to call. The wife responds and asks to speak with McMahon instead. Carter instructs her to speak with him.

Sept. 12: Carter asks the wife if she wants to go to a Bengals game with him. She declines.Carter indicates to the wife that the case would be closed.

Sept. 19: A student allegedly overhears the husband make a second threat of violence toward the other man. Police and university officials talk to husband again, who denies making the threat. Afterward, the wife tells the husband that Carter asked her out.

Sept. 20: The husband tells university administrators that Carter has asked out his wife.

Sept. 27: This statement is corroborated by the wife, and then Robin Engel, vice president of safety and reform, is notified.

Oct. 10: Carter asks the wife to attend a play with him. She declines.

Oct. 17: Whalen notifies Carter of the investigation and tells him to not have further contact with the wife.

Oct. 24: Exiger is contacted to lead the investigation.

Nov. 20: Exiger completes its report.

Reporter Carrie Blackmore Smith contributed.