The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Democratic Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody Stewart over the Republican justice Joe Deters − in part, because of his handling of the prosecution of former University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing.
The race is unusual: Deters is challenging his colleague Stewart after Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Deters to the court in December 2022. The two justices will face off in November for one of three seats on the Ohio Supreme Court in the fall election.
The Ohio FOP did not support Deters, a former Hamilton County prosecutor, because of his lack of judicial experience and his handling of a 2015 police shooting in Cincinnati, said police union lobbyist Mike Weinman.
In July 2015, Tensing fatally shot 43-year-old Sam DuBosean unarmed black man shot in the head after an off-campus traffic stop.
Immediately after the shooting, Deters accused Tensing of murder. The county prosecutor said Tensing “purposefully killed” DuBose and “should never have been a police officer.” At the time, the FOP said it disagreed with “many of the comments made by local politicians, including the prosecutor”.
The Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Board, filed a complaint against the University of Cincinnati for firing Tensing and ultimately received $350,000 in a settlement.
Prevents finally dismissed the charges against Tensing after two mistrials and deadlocked juries. Deters did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the endorsement.
The Ohio FOP’s support for Stewart is not new. O the state’s largest law enforcement union endorsed Stewart in 2018 about Republican judge Mary DeGenaro.
Ohio FOP does not endorse Senate race
The Ohio FOP has chosen not to endorse the Senate race between the incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Bernie Moreno – although Brown won the support of the union in past races. O competitive running is being watched nationally as Republicans and Democrats fight for control of the Senate.
Weinman said Brown worked well with the FOP on the legislation and was unanimously supported by the selection committee. Brown was four votes shy of the 60% needed for FOP endorsement.
However, some members were concerned about a tweet Brown sent shortly after Columbus police were shot to death Ma’Khia Bryanta 16-year-old black girl who pointed a knife at another young girl.
“While the verdict was being read in Derek Chauvin’s trial, Columbus police shot and killed a sixteen-year-old girl. Her name was Ma’Khia Bryant. She should be alive now.” Brown wrote in 2021. Chauvin was convicted of killing George Floyd in Minneapolis on the same day as the Columbus shooting.
“That tweet, people thought it was unnecessary and he should have waited until there was an investigation,” Weinman said.
Brown’s campaign emphasized the senator’s work with the FOP to benefit law enforcement over the years.
“Sherrod proudly worked with the Fraternal Order of Police to pass legislation to crack down on fentanyl trafficking and to secure the resources law enforcement needs to stay safe on the job,” said spokesman Reeves Oyster. officials across the state to continue advancing their top priorities, including ensuring law enforcement officers can retire with all the Social Security benefits they have earned.”
The police union also supported Ohio Supreme Court Candidates Judge Dan Hawkins, who is challenging Democratic Judge Lisa Forbes, and Judge Megan Shanahan, who is challenging Democratic Judge Michael Donnelly.
“The Ohio Supreme Court is an important bulwark against people who seek to attack law enforcement in the courts. We believe our bipartisan-endorsed candidates show our careful consideration,” Ohio FOP President Gary Wolske said in a statement.
Enquirer reporting contributed to this article.
Jessie Balmert is a political reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations in Ohio..
This article originally appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio FOP does not support Joe Deters, no endorsement in Senate race
