The chief spokesperson for the Columbus Division of Police was fired for unsatisfactory job performance, according to her personnel file obtained by The Dispatch through an Ohio Public Records Act request.
Jennifer Watson, who joined the Columbus Police Department on Jan. 2 as a public relations adviser to Chief Elaine Bryant, was fired Monday during her probation, which was set to end Jan. 1, 2025, according to her file.
The termination report in Watson’s personnel file states: “The employee has not met job and performance expectations.” But the report provides no further details or details.
Watson was paid $58 an hour for a 40-hour work week for an annual salary of $120,640, according to her hiring papers.
On Monday, Public Safety Director Kate McSweeney-Pishotti, who oversees the city’s police and fire departments, said she knew Watson was no longer with the department but said she was not aware of the circumstances of Watson’s departure and whether it was voluntary. .
Melanie Crabill, spokesperson for Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, confirmed Tuesday that Watson had been fired, but did not provide a reason for the dismissal.
Watson is the second chief public relations adviser to be fired from the position in the past two years. Watson most recently worked for Ford Motor Co. and various PR companies.
Before that, Watson worked for the Detroit Police Department for about two years between 2016 and 2018. Bryant and her first assistant chief LaShanna Potts also worked for the Detroit Police Department before coming to Columbus in 2021.
smeighan@dispatch.com
@ShahidMeighan
This article originally appeared in The Columbus Dispatch: Jennifer Watson was fired as spokesperson for the Columbus Police Department because of her performance
