By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati Police Lt. Col. Ron Twitty says he's spending time golfing, pampering his wife and weighing at least five job offers.

Lt. Col. Twitty

The assistant police chief, expected to retire within six weeks, is making the talk-show rounds this week, discussing his future and thanking the community for its support. He described his retirement talks with the city as "friendly."

Col. Twitty promised Sept. 10 to leave the police department within 90 days. That was the day he entered a "no contest" plea to a charge that he attempted to obstruct official business by lying about damage to his city owned car.

He was fined $1.

"There's no legal reason why I can't keep working for the Cincinnati Police Department," Col. Twitty said Wednesday night on WDBZ-AM (1230). "The only reason I have to leave is because of my work relationship with my boss, which is irreparable."

City Manager Valerie Lemmie told Col. Twitty he would not return to any position in city government, Mayor Charlie Luken said Wednesday.

"The terms of his plea agreement are firm," Mr. Luken said.

The city's highest-ranking African-American officer, Col. Twitty, 52, was accused of lying about how the Ford Taurus got damaged July 4. He said he didn't know what happened to it, that it must have been wrecked as it sat outside his Bond Hill apartment. Chief Tom Streicher did not believe that, and he asked the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office to investigate.

In an interview Oct. 13 with the Enquirer, Col. Twitty declined to elaborate on the five job offers, but he said he planned to announce his new job by December. He said he would not discuss any specifics about his summer ordeal until at least that time.

"I like working with kids," he said, adding that he won't go into security. "I've been approached by that one already. I want to stay out of the news for a while. I'm not going to commit to any job until December, but I have about five job offers already.

"I've told them all I'm going to weigh my options," Col Twitty said.

"I have a tremendous amount of support," Col. Twitty said. "There are those in the community that have come forward and let me know they appreciate my leadership and still feel I have a contribution I can make to this city."

To fill in the quiet times, he said he plays a lot of golf - "probably more than I can afford to play" - and bowls. He said he also is "pampering" his wife, Yvonne, saying this summer was "rough" on her.

Reporters Jane Prendergast and Gregory Korte contributed.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com