Univ. of Cincinnati names appointee to head PD investigations

CINCINNATI -- University of Cincinnati announced Tuesday the appointment of a new criminal justice researcher to handle external investigations, which will include the July 19 shooting that took the life of an unarmed black man by a white campus police officer.

University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing, 25, shot motorist Samuel DuBose, 43, after stopping him over a missing front license plate. He pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter.

Dr. Robin Engel, who is a professor at the University of Cincinnati, will now serve as the Vice President for Safety and Reform, a new job the university created.

She has been ranked among the top academics in the field of criminology and criminal justice based on scholarly publications, according to her bio on the university's website. Her publications include the examinations into racial profiling, police supervision and the use of police force.

Engel will manage the findings of Kroll Inc. The company was hired by the university last week to conduct the internal investigation of the July 19 shooting.

"I will oversee the findings of Kroll and help move that information forward," said Engel to CBS News. "We are relying on their expertise, and their top-to-bottom reviews for this shooting and other standards and practices separate from it."

CBS News contacted Kroll Inc. and was told they have no comment for this is a ongoing investigation.

DuBose's death comes amid months of national scrutiny of police dealings with African-Americans, especially those killed by officers. DuBose was black; Tensing is white. Authorities so far have not focused on race in the death of DuBose. City officials who viewed video footage from Tensing's body camera said the traffic stop shouldn't have led to a shooting.

Tensing posted bond Thursday evening, meeting the 10 percent requirement, according to court documents placed on the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts website. He left the jail about a half hour after posting bond.

Tensing is due back in court Aug. 19.