LIBERTY Fill-in police chief won't shy from action

Ronald Heineking described some of his officers as 'apprehensive'.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUBMULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- The township's interim police chief doesn't plan on being simply a caretaker during the search for a permanent chief.
Ronald Heineking will change policies if necessary.
"I have to do what is needed at this point," the former Kent chief said Wednesday, his first day on the job, noting that he hopes whoever is hired as permanent chief concurs with his decisions and can build on them.
Heineking, 63, now a Kent city councilman, was named Monday by township trustees to run the department until a chief is found. He was recommended by the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police.
Michael Pilolli resigned Friday after 31/2 years as chief and is now captain of detectives.
An organizational review conducted by the chiefs' association was highly critical of Pilolli and two captains who made up the management team.
Heineking, who retired 21/2 years ago as associate vice president of public safety and physical facilities at the University of Akron, is being paid $6,000 monthly.
Search: The association will conduct a search for a new chief that should take about three months.
Heineking has been part of the association's assessment program that helps police departments determine who should be promoted.
He was part of the team that did the assessments for sergeants in Liberty about five years ago.
Heineking was not interested in the chief's job here. He changed his mind after reading the review and contacting four people familiar with the department and its problems.
After his first meeting with some officers Wednesday, he described them as "professional, but apprehensive."
Changes: In reorganizing the department Monday, trustees reduced the number of captains from two to one [Pilolli] and eliminated two sergeant slots.
William Wilson, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 65 and adviser with the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, which represent township police, said the unions expect to mount a legal challenge to the job cuts.
"The union vows to pursue every avenue of legal recourse to determine why the trustees, especially Jack Simon, so strongly seek to keep Pilolli in power, while persecuting the two captains," Wilson said.
Wilson said he thinks the restructuring is illegal.
Heineking said he made it clear to township administrator Darlene St. George that she and trustees have to deal with such problems.
"I'll just work around or through those issues," he said.