Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited resigns

Hillsboro Chief of Police and longtime law enforcement officer Todd Whited has resigned effective Dec. 9.

Whited notified the mayor of Hillsboro, council president Lee Koogler and city auditor Gary Lewis of his decision to resign on Monday, Dec. 5. In an email to them, the chief said:

"This email will serve as my official resignation from the position of Chief of Police for the City of Hillsboro. The effective date will be December 9, 2016. It is obvious that Mayor Hastings does not like me nor the police department. I can no longer in good conscience work with the mayor. It is truly sad that he does not have the integrity to understand that what he did was wrong.

"We as law enforcement must report wrongdoing and investigate such. We were doing our job. In fact, we should not have been put in such a position to have to investigate our own boss. The community must understand that the police department will continue to do their job, no matter who is the chief.

"In closing I want to thank the community for the opportunity to serve you for the last 18 years."

Whited was sworn in as police chief in February 2014 by Hastings.

"I'm really pleased to announce Todd Whited as the chief of police," Hastings said during the swearing-in ceremony. "Chief Whited is an excellent selection."

Hastings also praised former Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin for the selection process. "I'm proud of the selection process used by Todd Wilkin," Hastings said. "It was a very democratic process … Chief Whited passed with flying colors."

Wilkin was terminated by the mayor shortly after the mayor's trial in Highland County Common Pleas Court.

Whited has more than 17 years of law enforcement experience, including the past 10 years with the Hillsboro Police Department. Prior to serving with the HPD, Whited served seven years with the Highland County Sheriff's Office. He also served in the United States Air Force.