TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A Toledo Police officer who investigators said bought marijuana while on duty has been terminated from the force.
Jeremy Berndt, who was with the department for more than 20 years, took an Alford plea to dereliction of duty earlier this month. Toledo Police announced Tuesday he has since been terminated from the police department, effective June 13.
“It is an understatement to say that I was disappointed when I was informed that one of our officers was being investigated for criminal conduct,” TPD Chief Mike Troendle said in a statement. “The community places great trust in the over 600 sworn officers of the Toledo Police Department to abide by and uphold the law. When an officer breaches that trust, they must be held accountable.”
Troendle went on to say that Toledo Police officers are held to high standard of personal and professional conduct under his watch.
Prosecutors said Berndt was caught on video buying pot from Maximum Performance Cycles on Laskey Road on Dec. 3, 2024. The affidavit says officer Berndt was wearing his police issued uniform and firearm and arrived and left in his marked Toledo Police vehicle. Maximum Performance Cycle is not a state licensed marijuana dispensary.
Berndt’s lawyer said the Alford plea was taken for a specific reason.
“Maintains officer Berndt’s innocence but acknowledges that had we gone to trial the likelihood is strong that he would have been convicted and for that reason we are not prepared to go forward with a trial,” said defense lawyer Jon Richardson earlier this month.
He is due back in court for sentencing on June 25. He could face up to 60 days in jail.
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Prosecutors said Berndt was caught on video buying pot from Maximum Performance Cycles on Laskey Road on Dec. 3, 2024. Read More
