COMMERCIAL POINT, OH — A former Columbus Division of Police officer from Commercial Point has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for destroying or altering records tied to a federal investigation into his misconduct while on duty — including disabling his body-worn camera during sexual encounters with women he encountered while in uniform.
Nicholas P. Duty, 36, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of destroying, altering, or falsifying records in a federal investigation. On multiple occasions, Duty intentionally deactivated or removed his body-worn camera to hide inappropriate and criminal behavior during encounters with women, including sex workers and victims of crime.
According to court records, Duty’s actions came to light in February 2024, when a witness reported suspicious behavior during a Columbus police operation targeting prostitution along Sullivant Avenue. A subsequent investigation revealed that on October 31, 2023, and March 22, 2024, Duty deliberately shut off his recording equipment during on-duty interactions with two separate women.
On Halloween 2023, Duty responded to a woman’s call for help regarding a suicidal boyfriend. After transporting the woman, he disabled both his body-worn and in-car cameras when alone with her, made sexual advances, and later continued contacting her for weeks, even days before his arrest.
On March 22, 2024, camera footage shows Duty speaking with another woman near a gas station. The two relocated to a nearby alley, where Duty removed or blocked his camera from recording video, although audio captured the encounter. During that interaction, Duty asked the woman multiple times for sex. She declined intercourse but eventually performed oral sex. Duty paid her $20 for the act — all while logged as being “out” on a police call in uniform and in a marked cruiser.
Further investigation uncovered that Duty had used his position to pursue sexual encounters with women, including victims of crime, and regularly messaged sex workers while on duty. He would arrange meetings in his cruiser, engage in sex acts, and pay them — all while actively working.
Duty was indicted in April 2024 and had been with the Columbus Division of Police since 2018. He was removed from duty following the investigation led by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, part of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.
Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison handed down the sentence on Tuesday in Columbus federal court.
“This case is a stark example of the abuse of power and trust placed in law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris. “Duty’s actions weren’t just criminal—they were a violation of the badge he wore.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Kevin W. Kelley, with support from multiple federal and state agencies, including the FBI, ATF, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Columbus Division of Police.
