Officer accused of showing crime-scene photos retires

5/4/2001

A Toledo police officer who was up on administrative charges for sharing graphic photographs and investigation details in the death of a 9-year-old girl has retired from the department.

John Kachenmeister, 51, retired Wednesday, citing a job-related disability. He said he has been granted and has accepted a maximum partial disability pension from the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund, according to a personnel action form filed with the department.

The retirement happened less than a week before the former officer was to have a disciplinary hearing on the administrative charges before police Chief Mike Navarre. The hearing was set for May 8.

“I really don't have a comment on his resignation. I don't think it would be appropriate,” the chief said yesterday.

The former officer was charged by the police department's internal affairs section with violating the department manual. He allegedly showed accident scene and pre-autopsy examination pictures of Amanda Rose Feaster, who was struck and killed Oct. 21 by a pickup truck as she was ringing a doorbell at 391 Dennis Ct. in McClinton Nunn Homes.

He allegedly showed the pictures to two employees of the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority, other officers, civilian employees of the police department, members of his family, a waitress at Terri's Restaurant on Front Street, and offered to show them to the eatery's owner.

Mr. Kachenmeister faced administrative charges of conduct unbecoming an officer, conduct subversive or prejudicial to the good order and discipline of the department, and dishonesty. The administrative charges will not be dismissed. They will remain in his personnel file, the chief said.

The former officer could not be reached for comment. He called in sick in December and did not return to work.

“I can't comment on anything, and [Mr. Kachenmeister] is not going to want to say anything,” Gregg Harris, president of the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association, said.

The department hasn't received a letter from the state pension fund confirming Mr. Kachenmeister has accepted a partial disability pension. The state pension fund could not confirm the former officer has been granted or has accepted a partial disability pension because it is a personal issue, said Carla Kelley, of the customer service department.

Mr. Kachenmeister joined the force in 1990. He had received two 10-day suspensions without pay, one for comments he made last year about the mayor, police chief, and Lucas County Sheriff James Telb that were caught on videotape at the county jail booking desk.

The other, in 1999, was for distributing party invitations that city officials felt were insulting to the mayor and police chief.

And in 1996, Mr. Kachenmeister was suspended 12 days for telling explicit jokes in a bank lobby, a department store, and the Safety Building.