A Middletown police officer handcuffed a 15-year-old boy and told relatives it was acceptable to strike him, according to police and county records obtained by The Enquirer. After responding to a domestic violence call Jan. 3, officer Jamie Patterson asked family members, “What happened to corporal punishment?” and told them it was OK to hit the 15-year-old she handcuffed, according to internal affairs investigation. She is accused of violating her duty by allowing the beating, which left the boy with visible welts and earned her a formal designation questioning her credibility in court. Internal records also reveal failures by supervisors to promptly investigate the alleged abuse, exposing a three-day lapse in oversight. Patterson was put on leave on Jan. 10. She was indicted March 3 on two misdemeanor counts of dereliction of duty. She pleaded not guilty and is next scheduled to appear in court on April 22. A trial date has not yet been set. Enquirer reporter Matthew Cupelli brea...