Defense attorney Chris Amato, left, sits with his client, former East Liverpool Police Capt. Chad Tatgenhorst, during a plea hearing that included immediate sentencing Thursday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

LISBON — Chad Tatgenhorst, a former East Liverpool Police Captain with 23 years on the job, lost his law enforcement career Thursday after pleading guilty to two third-degree felony counts of tampering with evidence.

“Your honor, I would like to apologize to the court, the city of East Liverpool and all officers of this country for setting a bad example,” Tatgenhorst said.

He also apologized to his now ex-wife and his family, noting that he’s an alcoholic and has been receiving counseling.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam followed the recommendation of Special Prosecutor Kevin Day and sentenced Tatgenhorst to three years of community control/probation with no jail time. He could have faced a possible prison term of nine to 36 months for each count.

As part of the joint plea agreement, he was to be terminated from his position with the city, but his defense attorney Chris Amato said he already resigned sometime in the past two weeks.

He also must forfeit his Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy

certification, which is required to be a police officer. Since the charges were felonies, he’s also prohibited from possessing or using a firearm.

Day, an assistant prosecutor with Mahoning County who was appointed to handle the case, said the plea deal was a mutual agreement between both sides.

Tatgenhorst, 49, of East Liverpool, was indicted last year for the two tampering charges for shutting off two police body cameras during a domestic dispute on Feb. 12, 2022 in East Liverpool. Tatgenhorst was off-duty at the time and was one of the parties involved in the dispute with his now ex-wife when he shut off the body cameras worn by the two responding officers. They were still married at the time when he came to her residence uninvited.

“His actions go against everything we would expect from a police officer,” Day said, adding he “must never be allowed to be a police officer in the state of Ohio again.”

Day said community control would be appropriate in this case, considering Tatgenhorst was losing his career as a police officer. He noted that the prosecution was not seeking forfeiture of Tatgenhorst’s police pension.

“Mr. Tatgenhorst understands what he did was wrong,” Amato said.

He explained that his client was going through a divorce at the time of the incident. He was not on duty.

“He understands what he did was wrong and he’s taking steps to rectify the situation,” Amato said, adding “He just wants to continue with his life.”

After the hearing, Amato confirmed that Tatgenhorst had already resigned his job and was working in the private sector. He said he was a good officer and served the city for 23 years.

“A police officer is a person in a position of trust and when they abuse that position of trust, that demonstrates they shouldn’t be allowed in that position again,” Day said after the hearing.

“It’s an unfortunate situation, but again, he violated a position of trust and should never be a police officer again,” Day said.

Tatgenhorst had been placed on administrative leave last Aug. 31 when charges were pending in Hancock County, West Virginia against him for alleged harassment by electronic devices. Those charges were dismissed, but he remained off the job pending the outcome of this case.