WARREN Police chief to fight suspension

A minority community leader was unhappy with the recommendation.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Police Chief John Mandopoulos says he plans to appeal the mayor's recommendation that he receive a 10-day unpaid suspension.
The chief says he does not know if he will take his appeal to the city's civil service commission or directly to Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
"I have the right to bypass the civil service hearing and go right to court," Mandopoulos said. "I am going to meet with my attorney and decide which way to go."
The chief said he did not know when he will make a decision.
Since the chief is a civil service employee, the city's civil service commission must decide whether to accept the mayor's recommendation.
The civil service commission will have a hearing on the matter at 8 a.m. Thursday, officials said. During that hearing, the city and the chief will both be allowed to present their case.
In the mayor's eight-page written recommendation, he found the chief guilty of gross neglect of duty, gross dereliction of duty, conduct unbecoming an officer and dishonesty in the performance of his duties.
The mayor said the suspension is to take effect Nov. 25.
Another opinion
"With all the things that have happened, I think a 10-day suspension is a slap on the wrist," said Tom Conley, president of the Warren-Trumbull Urban League and a member of the Warren Coalition, an organization consisting of minority leaders.
"In the best interest of the city, I believe that there should be a change in the administration of the police department," Conley added.
The mayor and Fred Harris, safety-service director, declined to comment.
The mayor had a predisciplinary hearing for the chief Oct. 20. During that hearing, the chief was given the opportunity to present his side.
The transcript of the hourlong hearing says the mayor ordered the chief to cease and desist making any threats against him. The chief denied threatening the mayor.
The mayor has said the alleged threat will not weigh into his judgment on the other charges.
The hearing was conducted to determine if Mandopoulos should be disciplined for actions by him and officer Manny Nites on May 24 outside 77 Soul, a U.S. Route 422 nightclub, and in allegations that he intimidated a television reporter.
The chief has said he and Nites were only joking with a man who was videotaping them outside the popular nightclub.
"Officer Nites engaged several passers-by in conversation wherein he is clearly heard on the tape stating, 'Cat's snitching people,' 'The cat is snitching on people,' 'The cat's snitching people,' and 'He just called you a b---- and a n-----," the mayor's recommendation letter states.
"I find that you failed to maintain discipline when you failed to enforce the rules and regulations and the conduct and good behavior of Officer Nites."
What mayor said
The mayor also noted that during the chief's hearing, Mandopoulos told him that Jim Sanders, an assistant city law director, told him not to conclude an internal investigation on Nites and that the investigation was still pending. The mayor noted in his recommendation that Sanders denied that allegation.
"I further find that your claims that Mr. Sanders counseled you not to conclude any investigation surrounding Officer Nites and your claim that the investigation of Officer Nites was not concluded, when in fact you knew that it was concluded, to be a disturbing pattern of dishonesty," the mayor's recommendation states.
Regarding the allegation that the chief intimidated WFMJ-TV Channel 21 reporter Michelle Nicks, the mayor said a witness has come forward and corroborated Nicks' complaint. The mayor does not identify the witness.
The chief has denied that he intimidated Nicks.
A letter sent to city officials from Atty. Stephen T. Bolton, who represents WFMJ, said Mandopoulos confronted Nicks about several issues, including the 77 Soul videotape.
The letter says the chief told Nicks he was going to give the home address of local media to drug dealers and was going to get area labor unions to organize a boycott of businesses that advertise with WFMJ and The Vindicator.
sinkovich@vindy.com