Head of Ohio State Highway Patrol is demoted

COLUMBUS (AP) — The head of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is taking a voluntary demotion in the wake of two state reviews that accused him of mishandling investigations.

Patrol spokeswoman Lindsay Komlanc said today Col. David Dicken will step down as superintendent, take the rank of captain and work at the patrol’s office of business services, effective Friday.

In a letter to Dicken dated today, Public Safety Director Thomas Stickrath says the colonel too quickly made a decision to cancel a sting involving inmates working at the governor’s mansion. He also says Dicken did not ensure the patrol responded properly to allegations a trooper was found in a state vehicle with a 16-year-old girl.

Stickrath says the demotion closes the disciplinary response to the matters.