CRESTLINE — Crestline Police Chief Joseph Butler announced his resignation on Monday morning, according to a letter from his attorney, Adam Charles Stone.

“This morning, Nov. 19, 2018, Crestline Village Police Chief, Joseph Butler resigned his position with the village,” Stone noted.

“After nearly two decades with the Village of Crestline during which his personnel file was without blemish, Chief Butler felt that the village administration had put him in the sad and unfortunate position that he must involuntarily resign effective immediately in an attempt to salvage the dignity and respect of his position and the village’s police department.”

Butler was placed on paid administrative leave on Aug. 30. The notice of administrative for Butler said the leave was “not a disciplinary action and you will receive full pay and benefits.”

The Village of Crestline requested the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the matter, Crawford County Prosecutor Matthew Crall said on Sept. 24. On Nov. 1, the village released a list of accusations against Butler, including “incompetency, inefficiency, dishonesty, neglect of duty, insubordination, failure of good behavior, and other acts of misfeasance, malfeasance, and nonfeasance in the performance of the marshal’s (Chief’s) official duties in violation.”

Officer Brandon Kitzmiller was originally appointed as the officer in charge to replace Butler, with Nick Tenore serving temporarily as the second-in-command. But on Sept. 17, former Mansfield detective and current New Washington police Chief Jeff Shook was appointed as interim village police chief.

Stone’s press release stated, “prior to hiring The Stone Law Firm, Ltd., Chief Butler found his work environment to be so hostile that he filed a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging, specifically, Title VII retaliation from former Crestline Village Mayor, Allen Moore.”

On Oct. 3, Butler released a video he took with his bodycam showing Crestline mayor Allen Moore using racial slurs during a conversation. Public pressure later triggered Moore’s resignation.

“It was Chief Butler that brought Mayor Moore’s racist and prejudiced comments to the public light after his body camera picked up the former mayor using the “n” word multiple times in a conversation. From that point forward, Chief Butler – for the first time in his career – has become the subject of sudden, inexplicable and retaliatory attempts at disciplinary action ultimately aimed at his termination,” Stone stated.

“Instead of putting his family and the village of Crestline through further turmoil and controversy, Chief Butler feels strongly that his involuntary resignation is the right thing to do.”

Stone also released Butler’s letter of resignation and a statement.

“I am hurt that I am in this position today. I wanted to spend my career here with the people of Crestline,” Butler said. “They have been good to me, and I have tried to serve them honorably. Sadly, my attempts to do the right thing as it pertains to former Mayor Moore’s inappropriate statements have made me the target of unwarranted scrutiny.

“The village simply does not need any further controversy. My family and I do not need this controversy. Thank you to the people of Crestline for allowing me to serve you for the past 18 years. It has been the honor of my life to work for you.”

Butler’s letter in full is shown below:

I, Police Chief Joseph Butler, do hereby involuntary resign from my position as the chief of police for the village of Crestline, effective immediately.

I would like to thank the citizens of the Village of Crestline for allowing me to serve them, without issue, for almost two decades. It has been the honor of my life to represent the Crestline village law enforcement community.

However, in light of the current state of the village administration and its treatment of me as chief of police, I feel compelled to resign in order to at least try to maintain the honor and dignity of my position and that of the good people of the village of Crestline.

Thank you for 18 wonderful years – not serving any administration; but thank you for 18 years of serving you, the citizens of Crestline.

Very Truly Yours,

Joseph Butler,

Chief of Police, Village of Crestline