LIBERTY Study: Remove police chief

Consultants say the current management team can't regain the trust of township police officers.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- An independent study of the township police department recommends that Police Chief Anthony Pilolli be removed.
The Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police's organization review of the department released Thursday suggests that the township also explore discussing retirement with its two captains.
Pilolli and Capts. James J. Cerenelli and Janet V. Virostek make up the department's management team. The captains have made no secret of their dislike of Pilolli.
Township trustees commissioned the review by the association earlier this year because of a rift between the chief and most of his officers.
Chief's response: "I don't think they [the association] were pointing their fingers directly at me," Pilolli responded.
Pilolli, who has been chief for 31/2 years, admitted he doesn't have a unified management team. He expects to discuss the recommendations with trustees.
Day-to-day operations are still being accomplished by lower-ranking officers, the review pointed out.
To discuss review: Jack Simon, trustee board chairman, said he and trustees Patrick Durina and Patricia Metzinger will discuss the review Monday in executive session.
In its critical review, association consultants found the department "rife with organizational dysfunction."
"Contributing to this dysfunction is the inability or unwillingness of the management team to function as a team. This is not a question of individual skills, abilities or knowledge, although the competencies of the chief, in the opinion of the consultants, are far from adequate," the review says.
In addition to removing the top brass, the association recommended to trustees that they consider a professional chief without any internal ties to serve as interim chief during the transition to new leadership.
The management team has deteriorated to the point of "irreparable damage," the study says, to the point where the chief and two captains can ever "effectively regain a level of organizational trust and credibility."
At the same time, the association spoke highly of a core group of dedicated employees "who want to function at the highest levels, but are currently hindered from doing so."
"They remain committed to their oath of office and their obligation to the residents of the township" despite the lack of direction and unity of purpose within the department.
Metzinger said some difficult decisions will have to be made and trustees will being making "necessary and difficult changes."
Any change in leadership, Metzinger said, will impact individuals, the department and township.
Problems: She said that policies and procedures lack updating and there are too many department supervisors -- 43 percent of the force.
Simon said he believes Pilolli could have been successful if his captains would have cooperated with him.
Simon said he doesn't visualize Pilolli leaving the department because he needs the income. Rather, Simon suggested, Pilolli might be returned to the ranks. He was a captain before being named chief.