Cincinnati police officer charged with beating woman

CINCINNATI - Friends and co-workers of Cincinnati Police Officer Kevin R. Jones are trying to figure out why someone who took an oath to uphold the law is accused of breaking it four times on two separate occasions within a month.

Officer Jones is accused of hitting his former girlfriend, Megan Thomas, and her friend, Angelica Ford, at Thomas' Mount Airy apartment on May 19. On June 18, he allegedly pushed Thomas' head into a brick wall at that same apartment, left her unconscious and took her cellphone.

The charges against the five-year member of the force include assault, felonious assault and burglary. Bond has been set at $70,000. Jones has been ordered to stay away from the victims.

"His police power has been suspended. He's been placed on administrative leave," said Cincinnati Police Sgt. Dennis Swingley. "Basically, he has no contact with the public."

Thomas said she'd known Jones for about three years and they were boyfriend/girlfriend, but she now considers him her ex-boyfriend.

"He's not a bad person," she said. "He's nice, but I don't know where this came from. He was angry, I guess.It surprised me."

She added she's embarrassed that the matter has become so public and is likely to move from the city in the near future.

Jones joined the force as a police recruit in 2007 and was assigned to District 4 upon graduating from the Police Academy. He was transferred to District 1 in 2010.

His personnel file contains mixed reviews. It notes that he was found at-fault for an auto accident during a pursuit on I-71 in 2009. It was his fourth accident with city equipment in a 24-month period.

A Patrol Performance Report from June 17, 2009 noted that Officer Jones completes his work in a timely manner. However, he needs to keep learning the procedure manual to improve his skills as a beat officer.

The following March, a reviewing officer noted that during a 12-month administrative driving restriction, Officer Jones rode with a partner each day. However, "the majority of officers requested that they not be required to ride with him again."

The reviewer also noted that Officer Jones "demonstrated a constant need for motivation from fellow officers" and that "while assigned to walking patrol, he failed to complete assigned tasks and showed little initiative."

The most recent evaluation states "Officer Kevin Jones has done a good job at a beat officer. He is a proactive officer and his monthly reports are among the best on second relief."

If convicted on the charges, Jones faces a prison term and possible dismissal from the force.