COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former Columbus police officer and Pickaway County resident has pled guilty to tampering with records, admitting to deactivating his body-worn camera during inappropriate encounters with women while on duty. Nicholas P. Duty, 35, of Commercial Point, Ohio, entered the guilty plea in federal court, facing two counts of destroying or altering records to obstruct a criminal investigation.
Duty’s plea agreement includes a recommended sentence of 18 to 48 months in prison, bringing to light a troubling abuse of power during his tenure with the Columbus Division of Police.
The investigation into Duty began in February 2024, after a witness expressed concerns about his behavior during street-level prostitution enforcement on Sullivant Avenue. Authorities discovered that Duty had disabled or removed his body camera during two incidents: one on October 31, 2023, and another on March 22, 2024.
In the first incident, Duty responded to a call from a woman reporting that her boyfriend was attempting suicide. While transporting her, Duty deactivated his body and in-car cameras. He later exchanged contact information with the woman and reached out to her, including in the days leading up to his arrest.
The second incident, captured partially on video and audio, occurred near a Sunoco station at Sullivant and Clarendon Avenues. Duty was seen offering money to a woman and relocating with her to an alley, where he turned off his body camera. Audio evidence revealed Duty asking the woman several times for sex; she declined but performed oral sex in exchange for $20. The pair discussed meeting up again later.
Duty, who was employed by the Columbus Division of Police since June 2018, was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. His actions were a clear violation of department policy, which requires officers to use their division-issued body worn cameras at all times while on duty.
This case highlights the abuse of authority and breach of trust by a law enforcement officer, further eroding public confidence in the institution. As a Pickaway County resident, Duty’s actions are a stark reminder that misconduct in positions of power can happen anywhere. His sentencing could range from 18 to 48 months in prison, with the court set to finalize the decision in the coming months.