Call quickly turned into threats of federal investigation by city manager, claims of intimidation of FOP president

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WEBVTT , A DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONQUICKLY TURNED INTO THREATS OF AFEDERAL INVESTIGATION, ANDCLAIMS OF INTIMIDATION.A DOMESTIC INCIDENT AT THISAPARTMENT IN AUGUST TOOK ANEXPLOSIVE TURN ON A FRIDAY NIGHTLATE LAST MONTH.>> HE CALLED ME AT ALMOSTMIDNIGHT.>> I KNOW THAT YOU'RE BEHIND IT.>> THAT IS CITY MANAGER HARRYBLACK TALKING TO DAN HILL.>> THIS IS A UNIQUE THINGGETTING CALLED LATE IN THEEVENING, WITH YOU MORE OR LESSTHREATENING ME.>> I WASN'T THREATENING YOU,DAN.>> I PLAYED A PORTION OF IT FORBLACK IN HIS OFFICE AT CITYHALL.>> THIS RECORDING IS JUST ANATTEMPT TO ATTACK ME.>> BLACK SAID HE CALLED HILLSBECAUSE HE WANTED THEPROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO DELAY ANINDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTOTHE USE OF FORCE BY POLICEOFFICERS.POLICE ARRESTED JAMES CRAWLEYAND CHARGED HIM WITH ASSAULTINGAN OFFICER.CRAWLEY SAID HE WAS MISTREATEDBY POLICE.THEY WAN INVESTIGATION HALTEDUNTIL THE CRIMINAL CASE AGAINSTCRAWLEY IS OVER.A JUDGE AGREED AND GRANTED ARESTRAINING ORDER.THAT TOUCHED A NERVE WITH THECITY MANAGER.>> [INAUDIBLE]IF THIS ISN'T CHANGED, I'M GOINGTO PERSONALLY ENGAGE THE -->> HE SAID HE'S JUST LOOKING OUTFOR A FELLOW OFFICER.>> SO FAR, THE CITY MANAGER HASNOT REACHED OUT TO THEDEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO REVIEWWHAT HE CALLS OBSTRUCTION OF THEPOLICE COMPLAINT PROCESS.FOR HIS PART, DAN HILS THINKSTHE PHONE CALL HARRY BLACK MADEWARRANTS A CRIMINAL CHARGE.

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Advertisement Accusations of threats, intimidation fly after late-night call between city leaders Call quickly turned into threats of federal investigation by city manager, claims of intimidation of FOP president Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A domestic incident at an apartment in Over-the-Rhine in August took an explosive turn on a Friday night late last month."He called me at almost midnight," Dan Hils, president of Cincinnati's Fraternal Order of Police, said, referring to a conversation he had with Cincinnati city manager Harry Black."Dan, Dan, Dan, please don't (EXPLETIVE) me, OK? I know that you are behind it," Black told Hils on the phone."Mr. Black, this is a unique thing, getting called late in the evening with you more or less threatening me," Hils said during the conversation."I'm not threatening you, Dan," Black replied.Hils shared a recording he made of the call with WLWT.WLWT investigator Todd Dykes played a portion of the recording for Black in his office at City Hall."This recording is an attempt to attack me," Black said.Black said he called Hils because the FOP president wanted the Hamilton County prosecutor's office to delay an independent panel's investigation into use of force by Cincinnati police officers.In the August incident at the apartment in Over-The-Rhine, police arrested James Crawley and charged him with assaulting an officer.Crawley then made a claim with the city's Citizen Complaint Authority, saying he was mistreated by police."I have no problem with civilian review," Hils said.Hils and the prosecutor want the complaint authority's investigation halted until the criminal case against Crawley is over."I think everything needs to be handled in a chronological order," Hils said.A judge agreed and granted a restraining order, which touched a nerve with the city manager."You are orchestrating an obstruction of CCA," Black said to Hils during their phone conversation. "If this doesn't change I am going to personally engage the U.S. Department of Justice."On the recording, Black suggested Hils' actions were motivated by a desire to become Hamilton County's next sheriff.Hils told Dykes he probably won't run and said he's just looking out for his fellow police officers."I believe very much this phone call was made to intimidate," Hils said.So far, Black has not reached out to the Department of Justice to review what he calls obstruction of the police complaint process.For his part, Hils thinks the phone call Black made warrants a criminal charge.