MAHONING COUNTY Civil deputy status revoked for staffer

Traficanti is the second Traficant staffer to have his civil deputy commission revoked by the sheriff.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Sheriff Randall Wellington has revoked the civil deputy commission of Anthony Traficanti, U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr.'s regional director for Youngstown.
Wellington said Wednesday he decided to revoke the commission because of Traficanti's association with Traficant's trial on racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion charges. The government alleges that Traficanti, of Poland, was one of three Traficant staffers who worked on the congressman's horse farm in Poland during regular business hours.
Traficanti has been subpoenaed to testify in Traficant's trial in Cleveland.
"I don't think that's the proper conduct to have as a civil deputy," Wellington said. "That tarnishes the whole civil deputy process and that put us in a bad light."
Wellington said he expects civil deputies to be good citizens who want to help out their communities. Most civil deputies seek the commission because they want to have a close relationship with law enforcement officials, he added.
About the commission: Civil deputies have no law enforcement powers. Wellington said that to receive a civil commission, a local resident must fill out an application at the sheriff's department and submit to a criminal background check.
Those who receive a civil commission are given an identification card and are able to buy the same badges as full-time deputies. The county has nearly 270 civil deputies.
Second one: Traficanti is the second Traficant staffer to have his civil deputy commission revoked by Wellington. In December, the sheriff revoked the commission of Dennis Johnson, a Traficant employee who is charged with driving under the influence. Johnson, 62, of North Union Street in Salem, also serves as the chairman of the Columbiana County Democratic Party.
Sheriff's reports say that Johnson drove into a ditch in Canfield. His trial has yet to be scheduled.
hill@vindy.com