WARREN Chief reprimanded for not complying with procedure

The chief said he will discuss the letter with his attorney.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
and DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Mayor Hank Angelo has issued a written reprimand to Police Chief John Mandopoulos for failing to obey orders and comply with department procedures.
The letter to the chief is dated Sept. 30 but didn't become a public document until Mandopoulos, who was on vacation last week, got it Monday when he returned to work.
Angelo declined to comment beyond what's in the letter. Mandopoulos said he had not had time to review the letter.
"I will probably go over it with my attorney and consider my options," the chief said. Atty. J. Walter Dragelevich represents Mandopoulos.
The reprimand follows a predisciplinary hearing conducted Aug. 26.
Angelo concluded that Mandopoulos failed to obey a Sept. 27, 2001, order from Safety-Service Director Fred Harris to make sure all police officers use the time clock when they arrive at and leave from work.
"To continue to allow the employees to tell the turn commander that 'I forgot' is unacceptable and contrary to the language the union has in their contract," the mayor wrote.
The mayor also found that the police chief failed to obey Harris' order of Dec. 10, 2001, to prevent lieutenants from filling in as captain without Harris' approval.
Charges withdrawn
Charges accusing Mandopoulos of not providing Harris with a financial analysis of all overtime worked, and of not taking disciplinary action against an officer who was late for work for eight days, were withdrawn after the August hearing.
Another charge of preventing cooperation between the Trumbull County Sheriff's office and Warren police also was withdrawn.
"Your commitment to aiding and assisting other police officers is genuine and has never been taken lightly," Angelo wrote. "Between comments in the media and discussions with the sheriff's office, this matter had been overblown."
The chief has also not complied with an order to complete investigations into citizen complaints in 30 days, the mayor wrote.
The citizen complaint procedures were devised by city officials, police officers and citizen representatives working with the U.S. Department of Justice. The letter says that six citizen complaints filed since March 20 have been forwarded to Mandopoulos.
"There is no evidence to indicate that you have acted to resolve those complaints, nor have you provided anything in writing [as required by the procedure] indicating that the investigations needed to be extended for any reason," Angelo wrote.
Cites particular case
Angelo also refers to complaints from Bonnie Shepard, whose son was killed in a motorcycle accident.
"You and I sat with her, she handed you two complaints, asked the city for a written response, and you assured her that she would receive an answer in writing although she may not like the response," Angelo wrote.
As of the date of the letter, nothing had been received, he wrote.
"This woman suffered the loss of a son and is still seeking answers," Angelo wrote. "Even the representative from the Department of Justice asked you to resolve this particular complaint."
Angelo ordered the chief to provide Harris, within five days, with a written explanation of how to resolve the issues of the time clock and lieutenants' working as captains.
He also directed Mandopoulos to review the status of citizen complaints within five days and determine if extensions are needed, close out those that can be closed and contact the citizens on those pending.
In the letter, Angelo said that his goal in the disciplinary process is to ensure that procedures are followed.
"I do not intend to debate your performance publicly, nor do I intend to try to manage your department," Angelo wrote. "You have indicated to me that you are not an 'administrator' but a 'cop.'
"You decided to take the civil service test -- that was your choice -- and you came out number one. As such, you are the 'administrator' of the city's largest department and while the city is operating in the 'black' we must still be as financially conservative as possible," the letter states.
sinkovich@vindy dick@vindy.com