MAUMEE, Ohio — The city of Maumee announced Friday a police sergeant was placed on administrative leave hours after WTOL 11 first reported his name appeared on an Oath Keepers membership list.
According to a news release from Mayor Rich Carr, Sergeant Greg Westrick was placed on leave Thursday and will not be working during that time.
"To ensure transparency, Maumee will have an outside agency fully investigate this matter and make recommendations to the city of Maumee," Carr said in the release.
On Thursday, WTOL 11 reported Westrick has strong ties and offered to provide support to far-right extremist organization the Oath Keepers, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Anti-Defamation League based on leaked membership rolls.
Westrick was promoted to sergeant in August 2021 and has worked for more than 20 years in the department. His name and other personal information appears on a data dump released by non-profit journalism group Distributed Denial of Secrets in September 2021.
The Anti-Defamation League sifted through the 38,000 names on the list who paid for a membership at some point and published a report Tuesday. The report states over 600 members nationwide work as law enforcement officers, first responders, military members and elected officials.
RELATED: Who are the Oath Keepers?
According to DDS documents, Westrick wrote "I am interested in local rallies. As far as talents, I am a trained gunsmith and certifed (sic) armored on a few weapon systems. But I also have computer skills for above average web applications."
WTOL 11 reached Mayor Carr by phone Thursday and asked him about Westrick's alleged involvement with the Oath Keepers. He said he hadn't heard anything, declined to comment further and hung up.
WTOL 11 left a voicemail with Westrick. As of Thursday evening, he had not responded.
Police Chief Josh Sprow said in an email he would talk to WTOL 11 by phone. As of Thursday evening, he had not called.
Shortly after 5 p.m., Sprow sent the following statement:
"The city of Maumee was provided information related to one of our police officers. We are in the process of investigating this matter. We have policies and procedures in place that we will follow as to our investigation."
WTOL 11 also requested Westrick's personnel file. We received the file Friday night and are reviewing it.
The Oath Keepers are an anti-government extremist group associated with the militia movement. They were among the groups who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riots.
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes is facing seditious conspiracy charges stemming from his involvement in the riots. Several other members have already pleaded guilty.
The FBI defines the Oath Keepers as a "large but loosely organized collection of militia who believe that the federal government has been coopted by a shadowy conspiracy that is trying to strip American citizens of their rights."
According to the ADL report, Ohio is home to 1,200 people who signed up for Oath Keepers membership. Included are 17 law enforcement officials, eight first responders, two military members and one elected official.
Former University of Toledo Police Chief and Toledo Police Officer Joseph J. Skonecki also appears on the Oath Keepers membership database, which has been seen by WTOL 11. He died in December.
Other local members named include small business owners, a University of Toledo professor of finance, a doctor and a nuclear electrician.
Oath Keepers membership is not illegal. An individual's inclusion in the database is not proof of active membership.