top of page

POLICING ISSUES-UNDER BIVENS LEADERSHIP

Bivens has not held Chief Mike Crispen accountable for his performance, conduct, or direction. Because of this inaction, Whitehall is now facing four separate lawsuits,

all tied to issues that impact public

trust and the effective operation of

the department.

Brooke Cano                         Lawsuit #1

A former Whitehall police officer, Brooke Cano, filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit on March 10, 2026.

 

What the lawsuit claims and background to the case

Cano alleges that the Whitehall Division of Police and city leadership:

  • Retaliated against her for union activity after she served as a grievance officer for the police union.

  • Discriminated against her because she is a woman.

  • Created a hostile work environment.

  • Violated her federal civil rights and conspired to do so.

  • Terminated from the Whitehall Police Department in December 2024.

  • Her discipline followed a June 2024 arrest incident involving a stolen car investigation.

The lawsuit is seeking monetary damages from the city and several officials.

 

People named as defendants

According to reports, the lawsuit names several Whitehall officials, including:

  • Mike Crispen

  • Chad Wilder

  • Matthew Parr

  • Van Gregg

  • Michael Bivens

 

Current status

  • The case is pending in federal court and will go through discovery, motions, and possibly trial unless it is settled.

 

Whitehall taxpayers will pay for the Lawsuit if won or​ settled.​

Screenshot 2026-03-16 004807.png

DEATH AT WALMART       LAWSUIT #2

In January 2024, an encounter at the Whitehall Walmart on East Main Street resulted in the death of 

Alexander Mehemet, a 43-year-old man with significant disabilities. His estate filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit in October 2024 against the City of Whitehall, Walmart, and an auxiliary officer. 

Incident Details

  • The Conflict: Menhenett, who was deaf and had a traumatic brain injury from a 2001 car accident, entered the store to buy a space heater. A store employee reported him as "drunk" after he attempted to use a closed self-checkout line.

  • The Arrest: Auxiliary Officer Kyle Schneider, working special duty at the store, approached 

    Menhenett and accused him of public intoxication due to his slurred speech and unsteady gait—traits the lawsuit claims were symptoms of his disabilities.

  • The Injury: When Menhenett did not immediately comply with orders to put his hands behind his back, Schneider performed a leg-sweep takedown. Menhenett's head struck the concrete floor, causing a brain herniation and profuse bleeding.

  • Death: Menhenett died five days later at Mount Carmel East Hospital from blunt force trauma. The Franklin County Coroner's Office ruled the death a homicide. 

Lawsuit Allegations

The federal lawsuit, includes several key claims: 

  • Excessive Force & False Arrest: Attorneys argue that "public intoxication" is not a standalone crime in Ohio and that the officer used lethal force for a minor misdemeanor.

  • Negligent Hiring: The suit alleges Whitehall knew of Schneider's history of "limited judgment" and disciplinary issues at a previous agency, Sharon Township Police, but hired him as an auxiliary officer regardless.

  • The case is still active.

​

Whitehall taxpayers will pay for the Lawsuit if won or settled.

FOP EMAIL BLOCKING    LAWSUIT #3

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Capital City Lodge No. 9 is involved in multiple legal actions against the City of Whitehall, following a long-running feud over department leadership and officer treatment. 

​

Active Federal Lawsuit (Filed October 2025) 

The FOP and its president, Brian Steel, filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Whitehall, Mayor Michael Bivens, and Police Chief Mike Crispen on October 31, 2025. 

  • The Allegation: The suit claims the city violated the First and 14th Amendment rights of union members by blocking union emails.

  • The Conflict: City leadership instructed the IT department to block all emails from the "@fop9.org" domain, preventing the union from communicating with its members, the City Council, and the city attorney. Whitehall City Attorney Brad Nicodemus indicated that the ban likely violated the First Amendment. 

  • Current Status: The case is pending.

​

Whitehall taxpayers will pay for the Lawsuit if won or settled.

COLUMBUS OFFICER SHOT                                                          LAWSUIT #4

On June 2025, a Columbus police officer filed a civil lawsuit in Franklin County Common Pleas Court against five Whitehall police officers following a violent encounter on July 6, 2023. 

Key Allegations

  • Tactical Failure: The lawsuit, filed by the officer as "John Doe" characterizes the incident as a "stunning display of incompetence.". It alleges that Whitehall officers had the suspects (who were in a stolen Porsche Cayenne) "boxed in" at a bank but failed to perform proper vehicle-blocking procedures, allowing the armed men to escape.

  • Lack of Coordination: Despite tracking the vehicle via GPS and knowing the suspects were armed with a gun featuring an extended magazine, Whitehall officers allegedly did not alert Columbus Division of Police (CPD) or request assistance while the vehicle was in Columbus jurisdiction.

  • Active Interference: One unidentified Whitehall official reportedly broadcast a radio dispatch explicitly instructing Columbus officers not to pursue or go near the vehicle because Whitehall units were "going out there". 

Outcome of the Incident

  • The Shootout: After escaping Whitehall's initial attempt, the suspects were eventually spotted by Officer John Doe on I-70. During the resulting confrontation, a 19-year-old suspect opened fire, striking the Columbus officer and suffered "severe and permanent" injuries, underwent multiple surgeries, and has not returned to duty.

  • Fraternal Order of Police (FOP): Capital City Lodge No. 9 President Brian Steel strongly backed the injured officer, describing the operation as one of the most "poorly executed and botched" he had seen in his career.

​

ORTEGA LEGAL                                   

GRIEVANCE DISPUTE                          

As of March 2026, the legal dispute between former officer Enrique Ortega and the City of has been

resolved through a settlement reached in February 2025. 

 

Settlement of the Lawsuit

The city of Whitehall and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #9 announced a settlement that ended the months-long legal battle following Ortega's termination. 

  • Termination Rescinded: The city agreed to rescind Ortega’s firing, allowing him to retire "in good standing" from the Whitehall Police Department.

  • Financial Terms: While specific totals for Ortega were not all publicly disclosed, community reports suggested the settlement for at least one involved officer reached over $100,000. Whitehall paid for years of income but loss out on policing.

Background of the Dispute

The conflict began in 2024 when Ortega, acting as a union grievance representative, conducted an anonymous survey of Whitehall officers regarding mental health and working conditions. 

  • The Lawsuit: The FOP filed a lawsuit in June 2024, alleging that Ortega was placed on administrative leave and then fired in retaliation for presenting the survey's negative results to the mayor. The union argued this was protected union activity.

  • Broader Context: The case was part of a larger rift involving a "no-confidence" vote against Chief Crispen and allegations of a toxic work environment and "arrest quotas"

​

Screenshot 2026-03-12 212432.png

INVESTIGATION INTO CHIEF CRISPEN     

​

  • Understaffed: Currently, the department has approximately 44 police officers, despite an authorized strength of 60. These figures are at times inflated by the inclusion of part-time officers, who should not be counted in the total.

  • ​"Toxic" Work Culture: Numerous former employees and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Capital City Lodge No. 9 allege a hostile and retaliatory management culture under Chief Mike Crispen. A union survey reportedly showed low morale and feelings of being "targeted" by leadership.

  • Retaliation for Union Activity: Several high-profile departures involved union representatives.

    • Enrique Ortega: Terminated in July 2024 and Brooke Cano: Fired in December 2024

  • Loss of Benefits to retire early: The turnover was severe enough that 13 of 14 officers who retired since 2016 reportedly voided at least some of their Delayed Retirement Option Plan (DROP) benefits, which can be worth up to $750,000, just to leave the department early.

  • Pressure Related to Statistics: Some officers reported feeling pressure to meet arrest and citation quotas (referred to as "statistics"), which they claimed were prioritized over thorough investigations.

 As of March 2026, the Safer Whitehall levy approved by voters is funding six additional sworn officer positions that have not yet been filled, yet the funds are still being collected.

After hearing an officer, that left the Whitehall Police department, ask for an investigation into Management Elmore & Harcar voted still voted NO on the legislation to investigate.

STATE LAW NAMED AFTER OUR        CHIEF OF POLICE                                

Crispen's Law (Anti-Ticket Quota Law)

In October 2025, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 114, which is commonly referred to as "Crispen's Law". 

  • Purpose: The law prohibits law enforcement agencies from using arrest or ticket quotas as a metric to evaluate, promote, or discipline police officers.

  • The Name: It was colloquially named after Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen, who was a prominent opponent of the bill. Proponents of the legislation cited allegations from officers within his own department regarding unethical quota practices as a reason for the ban.

  • Key Provisions:

    • Officers can now report perceived quotas to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which has the authority to investigate and issue cease-and-desist orders.

    • The law aims to prioritize the quality of police work over the quantity of citations issued.

bottom of page