A former Middletown police officer will not be jailed after she was found guilty of abandoning her professional responsibility by handcuffing a teen and encouraging his family to strike him.
Jamie Patterson was sentenced to two years of probation on Aug. 25. In July, she was convicted of two counts of dereliction of duty after one of the boy’s family members struck him over 10 times with a belt
, leaving purple welts the size of softballs.
Through tears, Patterson apologized to many people, including those in the Middletown Police Department and everyone in court. She resigned from the department and has begun a home improvement job, according to her attorney Christopher Atkins. She has no plans to continue policework, he said.
"I just hope you
have mercy on me," Patterson told Judge Noah Powers in Middletown Municipal Court.
"The problem here is it erodes public confidence in police officers," said Powers. He was more concerned with the lasting mental and emotional impacts of actions than the physical ones, he said.
The prosecuting attorney said neither the teen nor his grandma wanted to see Patterson be incarcerated.
Powers said he was glad to see Patterson was remorseful. He also said she had the lowest score he's ever seen on a test to determine whether she was likely to commit similar offenses.
The judge decided jail was not necessary.
'The road to hell is paved with good intentions'
Matt Broo prosecuted the case in place of Middletown's municipal attorney. He said Patterson's actions degrade the reputation of law enforcement. While one teen was harmed, Broo said everyone who begins to question whether police will actually help them has suffered.
Patterson believed she was doing the right thing by handcuffing the teen and encouraging him to be hit, her lawyer Atkins said.
Before giving his sentence, Powers said Patterson's case reminded him of an old saying: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions," he said.
A spokesperson for the city of Middletown did not respond in time of publication to an email and phone call regarding the sentencing.
Patterson must avoid drugs and alcohol and continue mental health treatment during probation, Powers said. She is also not allowed near the teen.
Patterson has been an officer with Middletown Police department since 2021, according to staff records. She was placed on paid leave on Jan. 10, according to city records. She was placed on unpaid leave on March 13, 10 days after she was indicted. It is unclear when she resigned from the department.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: No jail for former officer who cuffed teen, spurred family to hit him
