Columbus mayor Andrew Ginther is critical of an arbitrator's ruling to reinstate a police officer who was captured on cellphone video apparently kicking a subdued suspect in the head. But he says the city will abide by the Arbitrator Mitchel Goldberg's decision today.
In April 2017, officer Zachary Rosen arrived during the arrest of Demarko Anderson, who earlier officers had subdued after a call about a man with a gun in the North Linden neighborhood. Cellphone video showed Rosen apparently kicking the handcuffed Anderson as he lay on the ground. In the wake of the incident, the city's public safety director fired Rosen, over riding a decision from the police chief. The police union protested the decision, and the city agreed to arbitration.
In a 28-page document released today Arbitrator Mitchell Goldberg said Rosen used more force than necessary, but there was no evidence he was trying to injure the suspect. Goldberg called the kick an "untrained technique." Goldberg reduced Rosen's punishment to the equivalent of a three-day suspension without pay.
