CITY AUDITOR www.portsmouthohio.info

TOM BIHL IS CANDIDATE FOR CITY AUDITOR
by Austin Leedom, Sentinel Reporter

Tom Bihl, who served twenty-eight years with the Portsmouth Police,
finished his career with the department as Chief. When he retired
in 1997 he was appointed to the Office of City Auditor where he served
two-and-one-half years until January 2000. He lost the election in November
1999 to challenger Trent Williams, the present City Auditor.
Mr. Bihl's term as City Auditor was uneventful. However, during his
term as Chief of Police he made big news after a traffic incident.

According to a Portsmouth Daily Times report written by JEFF HENSON,
published on Sunday, December 6, 1992,
"Portsmouth Police Department Chief Thomas Bihl hit three parked vehicles
Tuesday night and totaled two of them.
He was not cited by his own officers for the accident, however, even
though "failure to control" was listed in the police report as the contributing factor.
When asked about the appropriateness of having his own men investigate
his accident, Bihl replied, "I don't see anything wrong with it."
A department supervisor compiled the accident report and, based on
what is called "officer's discretion," decided not to issue a citation. Bihl was off duty and driving his own van at the time he struck the
three parked, unoccupied vehicles in the 300 block of Offnere Street near the intersection of Fourth and Offnere streets.

At about 6:55 p.m. Tuesday, Bihl was driving his van southbound at
the intersection of Offnere and Fourth streets when he struck at an
angle a parked van owned by Whitt, the police report said. The report said Bihl did not remember what happened. Bihl said Friday that he had not been drinking.

Patrolman Brad Evans and Sgt. Stephen Diamond, who were both at the
scene, said they did not detect alcohol on the chief. Carson Whitt, of 319 Offnere St., whose van and truck were hit by Bihl, said if he "had done the same thing" he would have been issued a citation.
Other people who had been at the scene that night felt the same way."
(end of quote from Portsmouth Daily Times)

According to the Daily Times report one lady, who was north-bound on Offnere reported she was nearly hit head-on by Bihl before the accident. Chief Bihl was taken to the police station and then to his
home by police officers.

For several weeks following the accident there was great controversy
about whether it was proper for the police to investigate their own
accidents. Mayor Frank Gerlach said it was okay. City Solicitor
Richart Schisler said he would have to check on the appropriateness
of such action. The general opinion of the common people was that Chief Bihl was receiving special treatment.

A Portsmouth Daily Times Editorial, published on Wednesday, December
9, 1992 opined,

"We believe council should take it upon itself to see that written policy be put in place that would provide for the handling of such incidences.

And one final note.

To those of you who are community leaders, please keep in mind that this incident and its impact is not limited to the police force. For too long, there has existed an image that two "classes" exist, the "haves who can get away with anything" and "everybody else." This incident only perpetuates such skepticism.
A failure by city council and our leaders to take a stand on this incident, and develop a workable policy, would only further play into this notion.
And with good reason." (end of quote) Friday, October 31, 2003 - austin leedom.

(posted 12:45 p.m., Monday, September 29, 2003)

CITY AUDITOR TRENT WILLIAMS

CITY AUDITOR TRENT WILLIAMS HAS CHANGED HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS RELEASING PUBLIC DOCUMENTS

Who is pressuring Auditor Williams to cover-up city financial documents

that the public has a right to know?

By Doug Deepe, posted 12:30 p.m., Monday, September 29, 2003

Recent weeks have seen a dramatic change in the manner in which Portsmouth City Auditor Trent Williams treats taxpayers seeking financial documents from the City Auditor's Office.

This recent change begin to occur around the time the Sentinel uncovered the crimes of former City Service Director Mike Blackburn and the illegal Gateway computer purchase.

Auditor Trent Williams stated to the Sentinel that Mayor Greg Bauer told him (Williams) to send the Sentinel to the Mayor's Office if the Sentinel wanted information about Mayor Bauer's activity with City financial matters.

Over the last two months City Auditor Trent Williams did as requested by Mayor Bauer. We were sent to Mayor Bauer's Office to get documents that were in the possession of City Auditor Trent Williams.

Sending citizens to another office after an official request is made to a public servant when the documentation is in that public servant's possession violates Ohio Revised Code 149.43's public records law.

The Sentinel was permitted to make oral requests for documentation in Auditor Trent William's office until Mayor Bauer insinuated that Auditor William's and/or his staff was leaking information to the Sentinel.

After Mayor Bauer began his pressure on Auditor Williams, oral requests for public documents were denied. Auditor Williams demanded all requests for public documents come to him in writing.

This is a violation of the spirit of the Ohio Revised Code on public record law.

Auditor William's Office would normally comply with requests for public documents within two to three days. After the Mike Blackburn scandal broke publicly, Auditor William's started holding documents back for up to 10 to 14 days.

One request the Sentinel made to Auditor Williams for the payments for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds for the February 2003 ice storm has yet to be complied with, but Auditor Williams provided this requested information to the Portsmouth Daily Times Editor Rick Greene. We made our request in writing in August, 2003.

Auditor Williams ordered a Sentinel reporter to return to get documents while he (Williams) met in his private office with Editor Rick Green. This type of treatment won't be tolerated anymore Auditor Williams.

Where are our documents Auditor Williams?

Who does Auditor Williams work for; Mayor Bauer or the taxpayers?

Considering this is an election year for the City of Portsmouth Auditor one must wonder why the change with City Auditor Williams production of documents to the public.

Is the Republican Party pressuring Auditor Williams to stop providing documents that prove that Republican Mayor Bauer and his staff are crooks?

Something changed and maybe the City of Portsmouth needs to consider changing Auditors if documents are not released to taxpayers when requested.

The Sentinel never had a problem getting documents from the prior city auditor, Tom Bihl. Isn't that Auditor William's opponent this year?

The Sentinel won't be treated as a second class source of information to any other media in this town anymore.

Maybe a mandamus needs to be filed to get our FEMA records from Auditor Williams. That will be another waste of taxpayer's money.

Elected officials in Portsmouth don't seem to mind keeping lawyers fully employed.

Is change required this year with the City Auditor? The people will decide that in about six weeks.

By Doug Deepe, posted 12:30 p.m., Monday, September 29, 2003