WARREN POLICE Officer turns down job before being sworn in
WARREN -- One of five police officers the city intended to hire has turned down the job.
On Thursday, the city planned to swear in Gerald Hargett, 30, of Stow, but Gary Cicero, the city's personnel director, said Hargett turned down the job at the last minute, citing personal reasons.
Hargett is an emergency room technician at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna and an undercover agent working for Portage County.
Four police officers and six firefighters were sworn in during a ceremony Thursday in city council chambers. Fred Harris, the city's safety-service director, said it was a historic moment because the city has never hired so many safety service personnel at once.
All of those sworn in are white men, and the city has said it will more aggressively seek female and minority candidates. The money to hire officers and firefighters comes from a 0.5-percent income tax increase passed by voters in May.
Both departments were left short-staffed when layoffs and budget cuts were issued, and officials say more hires are expected.