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HAMILTON, Ohio (WXIX) – A now-veteran West Chester Township police officer is set to make her first court appearance on felony charges.

He is scheduled to appear in Butler County Court of Common Pleas at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, court records show.

Michelle Berling, 46, of Wayne Township is accused of tampering with evidence in a death investigation and misusing a police database, according to Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser.

A Butler County grand jury indicted her last month on two counts of tampering with evidence and single counts of tampering with records and unauthorized use of property.

His indictment alleges that the crimes occurred on August 8 and from August 8 to 13.

Berling’s tampering charges stem from allegations that he altered Flock camera data and images in an investigation into the death of a woman on Schumacher Park Drive in June, according to Gmoser.

Berling is also accused of misusing the department’s Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (OHLEG) to collect information for personal use, he said.

She was suspended from all duties when the investigation began and placed on paid administrative leave before resigning on Oct. 28, according to a municipality spokeswoman.

When West Chester police reported his resignation to the state, they revealed in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office public database that he left while “under investigation.”“

“During the second week of August 2024, West Chester Police Department officers and staff acknowledged possible legal and policy violations committed by Officer Michelle Berling,” the township said in a statement.

“After a brief internal review and data analysis, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was consulted for assistance. “All information was handed over to BCI to conduct an independent criminal investigation into the matter.”

The statement also says:

“West Chester Township expects the highest degree of integrity and professionalism from its employees. As reinforced in the vision, mission and guiding principles of our Police Department, each employee is responsible for serving the community with integrity, commitment, professionalism and courage.”

Berling became a police officer in Ohio in 2000 and began his law enforcement career that year with the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, state records show.

He joined the West Chester Police Department in July 2002.

Berling was assigned to its Criminal Investigations Section as an intelligence analyst and also had an auxiliary assignment as a crisis negotiator. state records show.

He also worked at the police department as a public affairs officer, according to his LinkedIn page.

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