LIBERTY State group to suggest resolution to police rift

The chiefs group conducted 48 interviews in two days.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- The township will receive a recommendation in about a month from the Ohio Chiefs of Police Association to close a rift in the police department.
The group was hired by trustees in January because of ongoing division between township police chief Michael Pilolli and his officers.
Township Administrator Darlene St. George said two members of the group interviewed township trustees, township managers, police, residents and business owners -- a total of 48 -- Friday and Saturday.
Some of the interviews were a half-hour, and some went more than an hour.
"They worked hard and long," St. George said Monday of the two-man team.
No indications yet: The two did not indicate what their recommendations might be, she said, noting she was told the group will issue a report in three to four weeks.
"The hard part will be traveling the road to recovery," St. George said. "This [interviewing] was the easy part."
The relationship between the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 65 and Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association and chief has been so strained that the unions have called for Pilolli's resignation.
The chief's association will be paid a maximum $7,500 for the recommendations the trustees can accept, reject or modify.
"It will up to us to choose what's best for us," St. George said.
William Wilson, Lodge 65 president, said he, too, could not get an indication of what the recommendations would be.
"I'd be guessing. You can't draw inferences by what they said," Wilson said.
He noted that he was interviewed for an hour and 40 minutes.