Chief wants city to disband police auxiliary unit

Police Chief Marty Kanetsky says liability was a key factor in his decision.
& lt;a href=mailto:yovich@vindy.com & gt;By TIM YOVICH & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- The city police chief is recommending the police auxiliary unit, a handful of men who have been marching in parades and parking cars at events for a half-century, be abolished.
"I'm going to see how long it lasts," said 60-year-old James Wylie, who considers the disbanding a "slap in the face."
"I'm not too happy with it. It was something to do," added another auxiliary officer, Robert Thompson, a 71-year-old former member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Chief Marty Kanetsky proposes bringing an end to the auxiliary because of the possibility of a lawsuit.
No date has been set to abolish the unit.
Kanetsky said Safety Director Robert Paterniti will seek city council approval to abolish it because lawmakers created it.
The chief is concerned with the liability issue because auxiliary officers haven't had police training, don't carry a firearm and have no arrest powers.
They do, however, wear a police uniform and badge and carry pepper spray and handcuffs.
Kanetsky said he doesn't want them working under the umbrella of the police department.
They work for free at special events, such as marching in parades for community holiday events. They are paid $7.75 hourly when they park cars at private events, such as weddings and school athletic events.
What's planned
Kanetsky said the city will fill the void by hiring three part-time officers, bringing that number to six.
The trained part-time officers carry firearms and have arrest powers. They are paid $10 hourly when working for the city and $20 an hour for a private contractor.
The $20 is the same paid to full-time officers hired for a side job. The rate is countywide, set by the Fraternal Order of Police.
Kanetsky said an auxiliary member can still work parking cars but must wear a T-shirt identifying him as a parking attendant and not wear a police uniform.
Commissioned officers don't park cars. Instead, they provide security, the chief pointed out.
"They have been major contributors to the community for decades," the chief said of the auxiliaries, but he noted he won't take responsibility if someone, including an auxiliary member, is injured.
Besides, Kanetsky added, auxiliaries have not been able to provide the manpower to work events for three consecutive weeks.
Wylie said the largest problem is that the unit's members have died off, leaving only about three or four who can work.
"We do have a couple oldtimers in there," Wylie acknowledged.
Wylie said auxiliary officers haven't been trained because the city doesn't want to spend the money.
At $7.75 an hour, they aren't getting rich, making about $40 on a weekend.
"We're talking gas money," Wylie said, adding he was miffed when the auxiliary wasn't asked to participate in the Memorial Day parade.
Although he's not happy about the situation, "I'm not mad at anybody," said Thompson, who said he likes meeting and talking with people at sporting and holiday events.