The Cincinnati police officer accused of mishandling rape kits and sexual assault cases was disciplined in 2016 for not picking up rape kits from a hospital.
It was revealed this week that Officer Christopher Schroder, 52, was stripped of his police powers in August as Cincinnati police and the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office investigate.
An Enquirer review of Schroder's personnel file found that Schroder was disciplined in 2016 for a problem involving rape kits.
"Several rape kits were located at Children's Hospital which had been there for several months, four of these kits belonged to cases assigned [to] PO Christopher Schroder," the file states.
According to the file, Sgt. David Simpson spoke to Schroder in December 2016 and discussed with him the importance of picking up the kits and processing them in order to complete a "thorough investigation and to stay within compliance" of state law.
It remains unclear how many sex crime cases this could impact. Schroder's attorney said the accusations center around three cases. It's unclear if further review is necessary. In similar cases, a thorough review of the officer's cases has been completed.
Police Chief Eliot said Isaac Schroder's "egregious" actions tarnish the badge. He vowed to never let something like this happen again.
Schroder's personnel file shows he graduated from Lawrenceburg High School in Indiana and then attended Eastern Kentucky University to study police administration.
He was an officer in West Harrison, Aurora and Greendale before joining the force in Cincinnati in 1999.
He first worked in District 1, which covers the neighborhoods of Over-the-Rhine, West End, Mount Adams, Pendleton and Queensgate.
In 2007, he was transferred to the personal crimes unit, which is similar to what might be called a special victims unit in other jurisdiction. The unit focuses on sex crimes, crimes against children, missing persons cases and related offenses.
He was transferred back to District 1 in July.
For the past three years his supervisors have said Schroder "exceeds standards" in his annual review.
"Officer Schroder is very detailed when he is investigating and closing his reports. He requires little to no supervision," Sgt. Jeni Jones wrote. "He is an asset to the Personal Crimes Unit."
Schroder also received a number of commendations including one from then-Chief Thomas Streicher and another from then-U.S. Army Colonel Michael Flynn in 2004 for helping with a training course. Flynn would go on to become President Donald Trump's first national security advisor.
It is unclear what's next in Schroder's case. He has not been formally charged with a crime.
On Wednesday of this week, Schroder's lawyer said a "binding" plea agreement had been reached in which Schroder would plead guilty to a misdemeanor dereliction of duty charge and resign from his job. However, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said there is no plea agreement.
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