DOVER – Ryan Porter, a Dover police officer, saved the life of a man in August 2024 after finding him without a pulse. In January 2025, he was honored with an American Red Cross life-saving award.
One year later, the Dover native submitted to two breathalyzer tests while at work. The first test was administered at 3:54 p.m. Jan. 21 and showed a blood alcohol level (or BAC) of 0.202. A second test at 4:15 p.m. that day came in at 0.168.
In Ohio, you are considered legally impaired with a BAC of 0.08% or higher for drivers 21 and older.
Two reasons were initially listed for conducting the breathalyzer tests, according to documents obtained by The Times Reporter through a public records request. They included reasonable suspicion and post-accident.
However, post-accident was marked as an error on the report. Dover Law Director Gina Space Tompkins confirmed it was a mistake and that there was no accident that led to Porter’s tests.
The breathalyzer tests have now opened the door to Porter’s placement on leave and two investigations, according to an announcement from city officials Feb. 12. The specific reason for the patrol officer’s placement on leave was not specific in any of the public records granted.
The two ongoing investigations include an internal one by the Dover Police Department, law director and city administrators. The second independent investigation is being conducted by an outside law enforcement agency.
Porter will remain on leave until completion of the internal investigation. Disciplinary action could be imposed, or criminal charges could eventually be warranted. Porter has not been accused of anything, city officials said in the February announcement.
A special prosecutor has been appointed to review investigation findings and will determine if charges will be filed.
Porter was previously on patrol during a fender bender in January 2021, according to public records. The filing noted a minor crash into a parked, unoccupied truck. No damage was reported by the victim to Dover police.
A crash report from January 2022 indicated a South Wooster Road collision. Porter submitted to a breathalyzer test at 5:50 a.m., which came in at 0.000 BAC. The reason for the test was listed as post-accident.
Porter worked with Dover police between 2006 and 2010 when he started as summer help. He spent some time with the Strasburg Police Department as a reserve police officer before being hired as a Dover patrol officer in March 2011. He completed a 12-month probationary period without issue.
Porter’s personnel filings list commendations for saving the Dover man’s life and included several notes of recommendation from Dover and Strasburg community members in 2010 and 2011.
Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@gannett.com or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Dover police officer on leave after breathalyzer tests show high BAC
Reporting by Shawn Digity, The Times-Reporter / The Times-Reporter
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