COLUMBUS — A warrant was issued, and police arrested 49-year-old Roger Kemp, the former fire chief of the Gregg Township Fire Department, following a disturbing investigation into decade-old allegations of child exploitation.
Kemp is currently facing a Level 6 felony charge of possession of child pornography. The charges stem from a digital forensic investigation into images that allegedly document Kemp molesting a minor more than ten years ago.
The investigation began in May 2025 after a victim came forward to report that Kemp had committed sexual acts against them in 2013. According to court documents, the victim alleged that Kemp would wait until his wife was asleep to commit the abuse, documenting the crimes with a camera.
On May 25, 2025, police executed a search warrant at Kemp’s residence in Columbus. During the search, officers seized multiple cellphones and tablets and hard drives and a video recorder.
Forensic analysts discovered photographs on one of the hard drives and uncovered sexual photographs that depicted Kemp, then 37, and the victim who was 15. The photos were dated 2013.
Despite the evidence being uncovered in early 2025, formal charges were not finalized until this week.
Gregg Township Trustee Matt Bishop confirmed that Kemp officially resigned via a Zoom call during a fire department meeting on Thursday night.
“The Township Board and I take these charges very seriously,” Bishop said. He noted that while the township contracts with the fire department, it is a private entity. Kemp had been voted back in as chief by the department’s membership last year, a move that has drawn fresh scrutiny following these revelations.
This is not Kemp’s first legal entanglement while serving as fire chief. In 2020, Kemp was arrested after an Amazon delivery driver reported that he fired a handgun in her direction while shirtless, shouting for her to leave his yard. Kemp was originally charged with pointing and firing a weapon (a felony). Kemp pleaded down to criminal recklessness and was sentenced to home detention and probation.
Court documents do not detail why charges weren’t filed against Kemp until Wednesday. It is also unclear why Kemp is charged solely with possession of child porn, despite these photographs allegedly showing him sexually assaulting a child.
Legal experts noted it remains unclear why he is only facing a possession charge, given the nature of the allegations involving the physical assault of a minor.
The Gregg Township Fire Department reported that they take these matters very seriously. They want to assure their community that this incident does not reflect the values or character of our organization or the dedicated personnel who serve this department.
Upon notification to the administration of Gregg Twp. On Wednesday evening, the Fire Department immediately relieved Chief Kemp of his duties and placed him on administrative leave. Thursday evening, the executive board of directors met and accepted Chief Kemp’s resignation from both his role as the fire chief and as a member of the department.
The Gregg Township Fire Department released the following statement: As a public safety agency, we always strive to ensure trust and transparency with our community members. Please know our operations continue uninterrupted under the command of Chief Rob Stecher. We are fully committed to providing emergency services and protection to the residents and businesses of Gregg Township with the professionalism and integrity our community deserves. We will always put the safety and well-being of our community first. We encourage anyone with questions or concerns to contact our department directly.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
