Champion officer charged

Robert E. Koehler faces 16 counts involving illegal use of state computer

WARREN -- A longtime Champion police officer has been indicted on 16 counts of illegally using a state law enforcement computer for his personal use.

Robert E. Koehler is a 34-year veteran of the Champion Police Department. Koehler served as Champion police chief for three months. He also was the police chief in West Farmington and Craig Beach.

Koehler was indicted Wednesday in a direct presentment of the Trumbull County grand jury for using the Ohio Attorney General's computer program called Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway, also known as OHLEG, for personal use.

Koehler, 61, according to the indictment, used the OHLEG equipment for personal reasons multiple times from 2015 through 2017. He is charged with 16 counts of unauthorized use of property, computer, cable or telecommunication property or service.

"He used the system in a private setting, not for law enforcement purposes," county Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker said. "OHLEG is supposed to be used for criminal investigations."

If convicted, he would lose his Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy certification, so he no longer would be able to be a police officer, according to Becker.

Champion police Chief Jeffrey White turned over the information to the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation in August, shortly after he was contacted by the AG's office about the potential misuse.

"I reviewed the the documentation sent to me regarding the allegations," White said. "I found a considerable amount of evidence supporting the allegations of misuse by officer Koehler. I realized the investigation was going to be very in-depth and possibly multijurisdictional, so I requested assistance from BCI."

The investigation was turned over to the county Prosecutor's Office last month for review.

"This situation angers me greatly because it now casts a shadow of doubt over this department and its integrity," White said. "I assure the residents of Champion Township the officers currently on our active duty roster are dedicated professionals and take their oath of office and their commitment to the community very seriously."

White went to serve a letter of suspension to Koehler and to retrieve his badge and gun on Wednesday afternoon but did not locate him. Koehler will be placed on an unpaid suspension as soon as the letter is delivered.

If convicted of the charges, Koehler faces six to 12 months on each count.

Craig Beach Solicitor Gary Van Brocklin said Koehler was placed on paid administrative leave shortly after the village learned of the indictment. A lieutenant was promoted to the chief position.

Village council members likely will meet in executive session to discuss what actions they will be able to take.

During his time on the Champion Police Department, Koehler received letters of commendation from the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office for his work in stopping a man during an attempted suicide and from a man he arrested who credited his professionalism.

He earned numerous educational certifications, including, in 2019, a certification for training on the OHLEG system.