Sunday, July 27, 2003
The mayor and safety-service director will conduct a review of the chief's action.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The police chief's decision to exonerate two officers who took part in a body-cavity search of a man arrested on traffic charges has been overruled by the city's safety-service director.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos has been ordered to review the complaint and give it more consideration, said Fred Harris, safety-service director.
"I told him that I want the complaint returned to me no later than next Wednesday," Harris said.
The chief met with Harris, the mayor, and the department's captains during a 90-minute closed-door meeting Wednesday at the department.
The chief declined to speak to the press.
Dominic D. Gambone, 25, who lived on South Project S.E. when he was arrested in February 2002 on charges of driving under suspension and driving slow, filed a complaint in March saying Patrolmen Tim Parana and Robert Trimble did a body-cavity search on him when he was arrested.
Parana told Lt. Joseph Marhulik, internal affairs investigator, that he strip-searches every male he arrests, according to the written internal investigation report.
Exonerated by chief
Marhulik found that the two officers violated state law and departmental policy. The chief, however, exonerated the officers.
Several minority leaders, including Councilman James Pugh, D-6th, have stated they are concerned about the strip-searches and want the city administration to take action.
"We want to make it clear to the police officer that we are not on a witch hunt with the police department, but we want this complaint reviewed," said Mayor Hank Angelo. "We also told the chief that the safety-service director and I will be doing an internal review of his actions that were on a videotape taken in the parking lot of 77 Soul."
The mayor said he did not know how long it would take to do the review.
The video shows Mandopoulos and other officers as they stopped by 77 Soul, a nightspot popular with the black community, May 24.
On videotape
A friend of club owner LaShawn Ziegler's taped the chief and patrol officer Manny Nites, who put their faces up to the camera, giving the cameraman close-up views of their eyes. Mandopoulos also asked the cameraman if in high school he had been voted "the nerd most likely to succeed."
The chief said he and Nites were joking. Nites can also be heard calling the cameraman a snitch and telling customers walking into the club that the cameraman is a snitch.
"The police department's internal affairs department will be doing an investigation on Officer Nites' actions and the officers that were at the club that evening," Harris said. "The actions on the video taped will be investigated."
sinkovich@vindy.com