COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The state watchdog is referring 18more Ohio wildlife officers for possible
criminal prosecution after afollow-up investigation into illegal hunting while on duty uncoveredadditional
cases across the state.The Ohio Department of NaturalResources said Friday it immediately would place 17
officers onadministrative duty and remove their law enforcement powers pending aninternal investigation. The
18th officer, a supervisor, has retired.InspectorGeneral Randall Meyer found in comparing deer harvest and
payrollrecords that the officers had either hunted while on duty, or they wereoff duty and had falsified
payroll records to collect pay for hours notworked.Meyer launched the probe after an earlier
investigationresulted in the conviction of two Brown County officers. He said hesuspected it was more than
an isolated incident.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The state watchdog is referring 18more
Ohio wildlife officers for possible criminal prosecution after afollow-up investigation into illegal hunting
while on duty uncoveredadditional cases across the state.The Ohio Department of NaturalResources said Friday
it immediately would place 17 officers onadministrative duty and remove their law enforcement powers pending
aninternal investigation. The 18th officer, a supervisor, has retired.InspectorGeneral Randall Meyer found
in comparing deer harvest and payrollrecords that the officers had either hunted while on duty, or they
wereoff duty and had falsified payroll records to collect pay for hours notworked.Meyer launched the probe
after an earlier investigationresulted in the conviction of two Brown County officers. He said hesuspected
it was more than an isolated incident.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.