MC campus chief retires
Stalking case is pendingBy Evan Bevins, ebevins@mariettatimes.com
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Fact Box
Howard Korn
Served as a Washington County sheriff's deputy from 1979 to 1985.
Hired as director of security at Marietta College in 1985.
Helped change the security department into the Department of Campus Police.
Ran for Marietta City Council in 2005.
Accused by administrative assistant Deborah K. Sturm of stalking, starting in November 2007.
Placed on administrative leave in April while the situation was being reviewed by the college.
Retired Wednesday.
Source: Times research.
Embattled Marietta College Campus Police Chief Howard Korn retired Wednesday, while still on administrative leave after being accused of stalking a co-worker.
Korn's retirement was announced Wednesday in a release by the college just before 5 p.m. The release says college President Jean Scott is forming a committee to conduct a national search for a new police chief.
"The new chief will replace Howard Korn, who announced his retirement on Wednesday," the release says.
Tom Perry, director of college relations, said he could not elaborate.
Korn's duties have been divided among other staff members since he was placed on administrative leave this spring. The college currently has an opening for another campus police officer as well. Perry said fully trained auxiliary officers have been helping out where needed while both positions have been empty.
Korn's administrative assistant, Deborah K. Sturm, was granted a civil protection order against the chief in April. She testified before Washington County Common Pleas Court Judge Ed Lane that Korn had made unwanted sexual advances, tracked her with a GPS device, left notes, cards and gifts on her car and showed up uninvited at her apartment. The alleged stalking began in November, she said.
The order was modified a week later, delaying a full anti-stalking hearing and changing provisions that prevented Korn from carrying a firearm.
A two-day civil hearing on the matter has been scheduled for September.
Both Sturm and Korn were placed on administrative leave while the college reviewed the situation. Sturm no longer works at the college, Perry said.
"She has voluntarily left that position to seek other employment," he said.
In Wednesday's release, Scott says the college hopes to have a new chief hired by the time fall classes start.
"It is our goal to find the best fit for Marietta College - a candidate who will help us chart a new direction in campus security and emergency preparedness," she said.
The new chief will be responsible for directing all activities related to Marietta College's law enforcement and safety, as well as directing security at all major events, such as sporting events and concerts.
Korn worked for Marietta College for 23 years, arriving as director of security and reshaping the security department into the Department of Campus Police, according to his biography, displayed until Wednesday evening on the college's Web site, www.marietta.edu. His position recently was expanded to include transportation and vending services as director of campus services.
A Marietta resident, Korn worked as a Washington County sheriff's deputy from 1979 to 1985. In 2005, he ran unsuccessfully for an at-large seat on Marietta City Council.
Neither Korn nor his attorney, Herman Carson of Athens, could be reached for comment Wednesday evening. Sturm's attorney, John Halliday, also did not return calls seeking comment.
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mariettaman
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07-06-08 4:34 PM
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Is that why Ms. Sturm is gone also then? Or was that the college doing more house cleaning? I agree, they would like to keep the publicity to a minimum. But that doesn't mean that Korn is guilty of what he is accused of. I have seen nothing in the paper, nothing from the college, the courts or anyone else that has said he is guilty of what he is accused. Just that he was accused, then 2 1/2 months later he retires and she's gone also. I (or anyone else) just can't conclude from that whether he is guilty or not.
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surprised
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07-06-08 2:05 AM
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Marietta Man you are just fooling yourself. The college knows what it is doing. They know more than you do and more than is printed in the paper. They do not want any negative things said about the college. Believe me I know, they are afraid the out of state and out of country students won't enroll, period. They put up with his antics a long time but this time was just too much.
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mariettaman
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07-04-08 2:30 PM
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No charges- no firing - maybe that's becasue they couldn't determine that anything was actually done - other than being falsely accused by someone looking to make a quick buck.... Again, everyone just assumes because he was accused, he must have done it. There's is so much more to this story than what is printed here....
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hockeypuck
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07-04-08 10:20 AM
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Yes, he got off easy! No charges, no firing. I guess that you can do what you want when you are the chief.
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mariettaman
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07-03-08 11:32 PM
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"Got off easy"? what did he "get off" of? I haven't seen or heard of anything that says he was guilty of what he was accused of. It's been over 2 months since the original charge. I would think if it were as cut and dry as everyone thinks it is, the college would have concluded their investigation and fired him. Just seems to me this thing isn't that clear and they got rid of both of them because they couldn't determine the truth......
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hockeypuck
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07-03-08 10:01 PM
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Just look at this **********. He does not appear to be someone I would trust with a gun. He got off easy.
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roadrunner
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07-03-08 9:40 PM
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mariettaman you're 100 percent right on. the college chose to wipe the floor clean. there are no winners here and their families deserved better. . the sad part is that the college has a longgggg history of perverts and sexual harassment and all they do is fire and move on like nothing ever happened. someone should question why the college is so sick. you won't find any colleges within 500 miles that consistently makes the sexual harrasment / pervert pages. it runs from professors all the way to past presidents. sad.
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Indian
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07-03-08 3:51 PM
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jenn123: I read the article 3 times, I have yet to see where Mr. Korn received any benefits of an early retirement package. You can apply % Marietta College; and before you accept ask if they have an early retirement package. Some places have such benefits and jealous people always seem to critize them. If you want that type of job, I am sure they are available. Thank you Mr. Korn for retiring, quitting, or moving on. Good luck.
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mariettaman
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07-03-08 12:51 PM
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ledzeptour - Does that hold true for both of them, since she is no longer there either? Sounds like they might have told both of them either leave of this thing is gonna get messier than it already is......
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ledzeptour
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07-03-08 12:19 PM
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I think I smell you either retire early or we have to let ya go in the air.............whats that saying head in the sand and walk on by....
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jenn123
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07-03-08 12:13 PM
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Well it's nice to see that in the end, A marietta College employee can earn great benefits by doing whatever they want...and when they get caught they even get to retire early!! Now that is a good benefit package. Where can I apply? I want to retire early too!!!
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ledzeptour
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07-03-08 12:12 PM
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Smiling Faces Smiling Faces some times pretend to be your friend
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mariettaman
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07-03-08 12:05 PM
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Has it ever been determined by either the college or the courts if he was actually guilty of any of this? I remember this from a few months ago. Seems back then that he was hanged before any investigations or anything had been done. Wasn't there something about an affair gone sour or something?
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newsnut
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07-03-08 9:28 AM
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at least he wasn't molesting little kids. More stuff like that goes on down there than is known. Protect the name of the school.
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