Former Rossford police officer Glenn Goss, Jr., resigned a day after he was accused of accessing a law enforcement database to check the license plate of Emily Hackler.
He used that access to send Ms. Hackler, whom he did not know, messages. He called her a “hottie,” according to her screenshots of said messages.
When Ms. Hackler asked the person sending her Facebook Messenger missives how she knew who she was, he allegedly responded with a selfie of himself in a Rossford PD uniform.
Imagine Ms. Hackler’s sense of violation.
Imagine what this does, at this moment, for faith in police officers and forces.
If verified, this behavior was harassment and abuse of authority. Such an action is not an error or innocent mistake.
Police officers should protect and serve, not victimize citizens whom they have sworn to serve.
An investigation by Rossford officials was cut short by the resignation but might well have resulted in the firing of Mr. Goss.
A more detailed investigation by the Ohio Highway Patrol continues.
But such actions can never be tolerated by any police force. There are bad apples, or people who lose their way in every profession — teaching, the ministry, medicine.
But a bad or lost cop has a disproportionate impact. Most cops are good cops. Many are great. Almost all are heroes.
But when a cop abuses his power he dishonors the badge, and he dishonors his brethren.
First Published July 3, 2020, 4:00 a.m.
