The University of Cincinnati today released an independent report revealing the reason for former University of Cincinnati Police Chief Anthony Carter’s abrupt resignation: a series of inappropriate text messages and phone calls to a woman at the middle of an investigation into threats made by her estranged husband.
According to the report by consultants Exiger, in September an unnamed male faculty member made threats against his estranged wife, who also works at the university, over photos of a sexual nature involving the woman and another male fellow faculty member. Carter wasn’t immediately involved in the investigation into those threats, but recognized the woman at a Sept. 6 demonstration against the Westboro Baptist Church on campus. He asked the woman to call him, and over the 36 days proceeded to text her 171 times and place 11 phone calls lasting more than three hours.
The report says that the woman revealed that Carter asked her out on dates during this period, and that she declined but kept corresponding with Carter “because of fear of upsetting the chief of police.” Carter later invited the woman to Bengals game, the Playhouse in the Park and other social outings. Exiger’s report contains excerpts from text messages between the two in which the woman politely rebuffs Carter’s invitations multiple times.
Based on interviews with UCPD officials, the woman and others at the school, Exiger determined that:
• Carter did not take the immediate steps necessary to determine if a credible, bona fide threat of physical harm to faculty or students really existed.
• Carter unnecessarily and without precedent injected himself into non-supervisory aspects of the investigation, bypassing traditional command and control, heightening participation only after meeting the woman face to face.
• Carter unnecessarily and inappropriately maintained extended and extensive contact with the woman well beyond investigative imperative.
• Carter intentionally or unintentionally led the woman to believe that he was acting on behalf of the university during his extended contact with her.
• Carter unnecessarily put the woman in fear for her safety either intentionally or unintentionally by overstating danger to her.
• Carter failed to officially document his interactions with the woman.
• Carter on at least three occasions asked the woman out on dates.
UC officials asked Carter to resign Nov. 22 after the investigation into his conduct was completed. He did so the next day, though earlier this week the school announced he would take a position with its School of Criminal Justice. His attorney, Brian Redden, says he disagrees with Exiger’s findings and that Carter wasn’t trying to elicit a relationship with the woman.
“Only on one occasion during these text interchanges did anyone mention the concept of a ‘date’ or romantic relationship and that was a statement made by the wife,” Redden wrote in a letter to UC officials. “In response to that comment, Chief Carter immediately corrected that comment and informed her that he had no such intent or interest.”
CityBeat has reached out to UC for further comment. Interim UCPD Chief Maris Herold has taken Carter’s position following his resignation. Carter was a finalist for a job as the Fairfield Police Chief — the city of Fairfield has yet to make a statement about whether he’s still a candidate.
This article appears in Nov 29 – Dec 6, 2017.
