University of Cincinnati pays $250k to ex-cop who killed Sam DuBose

Former University of Cincinnati Police Officer Raymond Tensing, who killed an unarmed black motorist during an off-campus traffic stop, has received a settlement from UC worth almost $350,000, UC announced Thursday afternoon.

It settles a grievance the Ohio police union filed on Tensing's behalf when he was fired after the July 2015 death of Sam DuBose. In exchange for $244,230 in back pay and benefits and legal fees of $100,000, Tensing resigned. He also agreed not to file a lawsuit against UC.

DaShonda Reid, mother of four of DuBose’s 13 children, was engaged to marry him at the time of his death.

“I’m very upset with UC paying that murderer Tensing,” she wrote to The Enquirer in a text message. “He’s officially a paid assassin who has not shown one ounce of remorse for killing an innocent man.

“To even want compensation (after) murdering an innocent man shows how soulless and callous he is," Reid said. "UC has now reversed any of the rights they attempted to do by Sam. His blood is not only on Tensing’s hands (and) the justice system, it’s now on UC’s hands.”

Civil rights leader Bobby Hilton, a spiritual adviser to members of the family, said the settlement was painful, coming after two juries deadlocked on murder charges for Tensing.

“After sitting through the trial of Ray Tensing with the family of Samuel DuBose and witnessing lies and blatant acts of racism, the news of Ray Tensing getting a financial settlement is like a nail in the heart," said Hilton, senior pastor of Word of Deliverance Ministries in Forest Park. "However, our trust remains in God that with His help, we may someday obtain truth and justice for all."

UC President Neville Pinto, who wasn’t at UC when DuBose was killed, announced the settlement in an email to students, faculty and staff.

“I realize this agreement will be difficult for our community,” he wrote. “I am nevertheless hopeful that we can focus on supporting each other as members of the same Bearcat family — even, perhaps especially, if we don’t agree.”

Tensing pulled DuBose over July 19, 2015, as he was driving a car without a front license plate. The encounter that led to DuBose's death was captured on a body camera worn by Tensing, and the video was publicly released after the officer was indicted on murder charges.

In 2016, the university reached a $4.85 million civil settlement with DuBose's family, though UC only paid $100,000 out of pocket. In addition to the money, that settlement included tuition for DuBose's 12 children, an on-campus memorial, an apology and a role for the family in campus matters relating to police reform.

Following DuBose's death, UC overhauled its police department and created an advisory council, chaired by retired Hamilton County Judge John Andrew West, that continues, Pinto noted.

"We are making meaningful progress with the voluntary police reforms we initiated with the input and engagement of the broader community," he said.

The Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Council filed the grievance on the same day Tensing was indicted on murder charges for killing DuBose. The union said Tensing's removal from the police department was unlawful. It was put on hold during the criminal trial.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters tried Tensing for murder twice, but both times the jury deadlocked. Ultimately, Deters dismissed the charges.

In July 2017, when the criminal case ended, the grievance came back into play.

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In the grievance, Tensing said he was entitled to be reinstated and awarded full back pay and benefits, based on the terms of the union's contract with UC.

The FOP argued that UC didn’t follow its own disciplinary policies. The elements at play were the fact that Tensing was denied a disciplinary hearing before he was fired, wasn't placed on paid leave and wasn't convicted.

“I’m satisfied with the settlement agreement with the University of Cincinnati," Tensing said in a statement Thursday. "This case has caused a lot of strife in the community, and I believe the settlement will allow for healing to continue; it certainly will do that for me after two difficult trials."

University officials did not comment on the grievance or how it handled the situation when asked last year and referred to Pinto's statement after Thursday's announcement.

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