Cincinnati companies continue to monitor Tensing verdict

UPDATE @ 11:17 a.m. Nov. 11:

Jane Weiler, director of marketing communications for Cincinnati Bell, said this morning the company is in communication with the city of Cincinnati and is “monitoring the case very closely.”

“If there is any indication that either the trial or its outcome will affect our employees, we will implement safety and operational protocols,” Weiler said.

UPDATE @ 9:44 a.m. Nov. 11:

Duke Energy spokeswoman Sally Thelen said this morning the company has nothing planned at this time in the way of advising employees to leave work early.

“(We) will monitor activities and determine as the day unfolds,” she said.

ORIGINAL REPORT (Nov. 10):

Cincinnati companies are taking a wait-and-see approach as jury deliberations continue in the murder trial of a white former police officer who said he feared for his life before fatally shooting an unarmed black man during a traffic stop over a missing front license plate in Ohio

This news organization obtained a copy of a message sent by Duke Energy via email and text to employees and contingent workers that they should leave the company’s Ohio & Kentucky Regional Headquarters.

Contacted for comment, Duke Energy spokeswoman Sally Thelen said that “out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of our workforce, we advised workers at the downtown facilities in the central business district they could leave early today.”

MORE: Authorities, schools on alert as Cincinnati awaits verdict

Larry Magnesen, director of corporate communications for Fifth Third Bank, told this news organization that “certainly we are monitoring it as has been suggested by local authorities. Right now, we are operating business as usual.”

The company has an employee hotline that can be accessed in case of inclement weather, crises or other disruptions, Magnesen said, but “at this time that’s not active because there’s nothing going on.”

Western & Southern Financial Group spokesman José Marques said the company’s security team is monitoring the situation, “but we have not made any changes to our daily activities.”

Procter & Gamble spokeswoman Tressie Rose said, “As a matter of practice, we don’t discuss our security practices, however, I can confirm that we have not provided employees with specific direction.”

People gathered outside the Hamilton County Courthouse throughout the day waiting on a verdict in the trial.

Police on bicycles rode past the courthouse around 4:30 p.m. today prior to the verdict being read.

Hamilton County Judge Megan Shanahan sequestered the jurors Wednesday night after they deliberated for more than four hours.

Prosecutors want them to conclude that now-fired University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing “purposely” killed Sam DuBose. Jurors also have the option of convicting him of voluntary manslaughter, meaning he killed DuBose in a fit of rage or sudden passion after being provoked.

Tensing testified that he feared he was going to be killed as DuBose tried to drive away.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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