LIBERTY Moves irritate union leader

A former Kent police chief has been named to fill the gap.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- A Liberty police union leader has declared union war against the township.
William Wilson, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 65 and adviser to the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, made the declaration after an emotionally charged trustee meeting Monday night.
During the meeting, trustees accepted the resignation of Michael Pilolli as police chief and appointed him captain of detectives, effective April 28.
The union has been working to oust Pilolli, who served as chief for 31/2 years. He was to be replaced temporarily today by Ron Heineken, former Kent police chief.
Heineken, a Kent city councilman, is retired as associate vice president in charge of safety and facilities at the University of Akron.
He will be paid $6,000 per month as interim chief here.
Positions eliminated: In an effort to reorganized the police department, trustees eliminated two captain slots held by James Cerenelli and Janet Virostek. They will become sergeants.
The two junior sergeant positions also were abolished, and Toby Meloro and Stephen Shimko will revert to patrol officer ranks.
A recently completed organizational review by the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police recommended that Pilolli be removed and the township discuss retirement with Cerenelli and Virostek.
All members of the police force, except the chief, are union members.
Wilson contends Cerenelli is the senior captain and Pilolli should not replace either Cerenelli or Virostek as a captain.
"Once again, in their rush to judgment, they have stepped all over the union contract," Wilson said.
The union leader said the rank structure in the department was negotiated and can't be changed by trustees unilaterally.
"Any conflict between the captains and the chief [Pilolli] are directly related to the captains' efforts to address violations, improprieties and injustices by the chief against the union membership," Wilson stressed.
Trustees' comments: Trustee Jack Simon made the motion to restructure.
"He [Pilolli] is not totally to blame here," said Trustee Patrick Durina.
Trustee Patricia Metzinger said the elimination of the supervisors' positions was a recommendation of the chiefs association.
Cerenelli told trustees that it was Pilolli who forced the captains to disagree with him, thus creating hostile working conditions.
He also criticized trustees for not correcting the problem long ago.
Pilolli could not be reached.
During the long meeting, Durina was called a derogatory name by a woman in the audience.
"I'm not putting up with that," Durina shouted as he got out of his seat, demanding to know who made the comment.
After the woman admitted it, Durina ordered police to remove her from the room.
Township administrator Darlene St. George quickly called for an executive session and the woman left.