WARREN Internal probe clears officers

None of the officers interviewed said he knew who displayed the copies of the sergeant's arrest report.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- City police officers did not harass a sergeant when they made copies of his arrest report and hung them on the walls in the Emergency Services Division, the police department's internal affairs division has found.
A harassment complaint was filed April 23 with internal affairs by Sgt. Bill Boldin. Boldin did not respond to a message left on his cell phone's voice mail seeking comment.
The letter from Boldin says Patrol Officer Rich Kovach and possibly others "violated a myriad of department policies" when they copied and distributed his arrest report inside and outside the department.
The internal investigation was completed in September. A copy of the findings was released to The Vindicator after a public records request.
"I agree with Lt. Joseph Marhulik's assessment that no harassment of Sgt. Boldin took place, but upon reading the complaint I did see some additional problems that may be in violation of policy and procedures and I would like those reviewed," said Fred Harris, director of safety and service.
Harris declined to elaborate.
What happened
According to the report, Boldin was involved in a bar fight in Wadsworth, Ohio, on March 9. He was issued a citation for disorderly conduct, the internal report states.
On April 17, internal affairs began investigating Boldin's actions. Two days later, other officers heard about the arrest, according to the report.
Kovach and Patrol Officers Eric Merkel, Doug Hipple, Tim Parana and Tim Ladner were interviewed regarding Boldin's complaint.
The officers said they heard rumors about Boldin's arrest.
"Ptl. Kovach was concerned because Sgt. Boldin is a supervisor," Marhulik's report states. "He wanted to try and find out the truth about Sgt. Boldin's behavior while at the bar in Wadsworth, Ohio.
"Ptl. Kovach made the call to the Wadsworth Police Department. A copy of the report was faxed to the Warren Police Department."
The arrest report is a public document and could have been released to anyone who requested it, Marhulik said.
Internal affair officers interviewed Warren police dispatchers who said Merkel, Hipple, Ladner, Parana and Kovach were in the radio room when the fax from Wadsworth police arrived.
Copies made
The dispatchers told the internal affairs investigators that soon after the fax arrived, the officers went to the copy machine. After copies were made, the officers left the radio room.
"The officers all said they did not know who placed the copies on the wall and in the mailboxes of the police officers. I was unable to determine who placed the copies of the public record on the walls of the Emergency Services Division and into the officers' mailboxes," Marhulik states in his report.
"This action was childish behavior, but I cannot prove who disseminated this information to multiple people both inside and outside the Warren Police Department."
Marhulik's report points out that the charge against Boldin was dismissed in Wadsworth Municipal Court after Boldin performed 24 hours of community service and agreed to testify in the bar fight case there.
Boldin told The Vindicator in July he was confident the charges would be dismissed and that they were after his attorney had discussions with the prosecutor.
Marhulik noted in his report that Boldin was concerned about anyone finding out about the community service he was ordered to do by the Wadsworth court.
sinkovich@vindy.com