WARREN Chief is reviewing officers' e-mail

The mayor praised work by three police officers.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN --The city's top cop is examining e-mail transmissions written by city officers to determine if any administrative charges should be filed.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos issued a memo Tuesday stating that all officers reviewed the communications section of the department's rules and signed a sheet saying they have done so.
"I have sat back and listened to various officers criticizing the news media for stories," the chief's letter states. "I too have been upset with the media for their recent reporting of incidents involving our department.
"That does not change the fact that it was our officers that misused the MDT's [mobile data transmitters]. The media can only report truthfully on these embarrassing situations if they first occur."
Mandopoulos said he has begun his review of the e-mails. Mayor Hank Angelo said he did not know how long it will take to investigate whether the $453,000 mobile data terminal system is being used properly.
The review comes in the wake of a Vindicator article about e-mail messages sent on seven days this year. Most of the messages are about trips to the convenience store and joking between officers -- not official business. Some police officers said the e-mails were not meant to offend anyone.
The chief declined to comment further.
The city bought the mobile data terminal system for cruisers in 1998 to give officers a way to communicate with one another without using the radios, which can be monitored by criminals, officials said.
For example, the system can be used if officers want to get out a description of a stolen car without letting criminals know police are on to them.
Officers commended
Angelo, meanwhile, said Tuesday that he is very pleased with the work of several officers over the past few weeks.
The mayor noted that he and Fred Harris, safety-service director, looked into why the press was not notified when MarQuis Gary, 5, was struck by a hit-and-run motorist Aug. 10. The grandmother called the press the next day.
The mayor said the officers had conflicting information on the type of vehicle involved and did not want the wrong information released.
"I believe it is more important to deal with the fact that officer Ben Harrell had a suspect three days after the incident and an arrest four days after," the mayor said.
He also praised the work of officer John Yuricek, who helped save a man who threatened to jump from a downtown building, and officer Wayne Mackey, who delivered a baby last week.
"While we have some problems we need to fix, these three officers show that we still have a great department with some really great officers who go way beyond the call of duty," the mayor said.
sinkovich@vindy.com