COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus police officer who pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty and is accused of paying prostitutes for sex while on-duty will be placed on paid leave after an arbitrator decided he should get his job back.
Randall Mayhew was set to return to work on Dec. 15, but Thursday, the Public Safety Director decided to place Mayhew on paid leave that day pending an investigation into additional allegations.
Three different women accused Mayhew of buying sex while he was on-duty. Two of the alleged acts happened in his police cruiser. Internal affairs reports say GPS devices on Mayhew's cruiser back-up the women's claims.
Then chief, Kim Jacobs, pushed for Mayhew to be fired, which happened in August of 2018.
Mayhew ultimately plead guilty to dereliction of duty, for not arresting a woman he knew had warrants out for her arrest. That woman told investigators Mayhew knew she was wanted.
At the time, Mayhew's attorney argued he pled guilty so Mayhew could fight for his job back.
An arbitrator decided Mayhew should be back on the force.
The arbitrator said he made his decision because the city did not get any of the women to testify at the hearing, saying in his report, "There was no indication of any attempt by the Employer to present the witness. Presumably they could have either been persuaded to appear, or subpoened."
The public safety director's office would not elaborate what the allegations are.
10TV reached out to Columbus Division of Police, but they would not comment.