WARREN Officials worry that few seek jobs as police

A CSC member says he doesnot think people know they can apply for the jobs.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Seven people have applied for as many as 10 jobs that are expected to open at the city police department the next two years.
The shallow applicant pool is a far cry from what happened two years ago when 30 people rushed to hand in applications in the first hour they were accepted, city officials say.
"I think the word is not out there, and I think people don't know," said Atty. James Fredericka, a member of the city's civil service commission. "The last time we announced we were giving the test, we got major stories in two papers, and that didn't happen this year."
Safety-Service Director Fred Harris says he fears that there won't be that many people applying.
"I know why we aren't having many people applying, and that is because of the negative publicity surrounding the department," Harris said. "We had national publicity about this department, and it wasn't good."
Harris was referring to the Lyndal Kimble videotape. A neighbor taped Kimble's arrest by city police officers June 28 and gave it to the local and national press.
The city was hoping to recruit more minority applicants, said Harris and Gary Cicero, the city's human resource director.
"It's going to be pretty impossible right now to recruit any minority applicants because of this, and I don't think there is anything we can do about it now," Harris said.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos could not be reached Wednesday.
How to apply
Notarized applications can still be submitted between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday and Sept. 20 at the police department.
To be eligible, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen between age 21 and 34, be a high school graduate or possess a General Educational Development diploma and have a valid Ohio driver's license.
Applications are available at the police department and at the human resources and safety service director's offices in city hall.
Police say they used necessary force to arrest Kimble, noting that he was attempting to swallow suspected crack cocaine.
A few news stories also dealt with a complaint about a strip search by officers. The department's internal affairs department found the search violated state law, but Mandopoulos exonerated the officers involved.
After The Vindicator published that story, the mayor and safety service director ordered the chief to review the matter.
A new internal investigation has begun, and Mayor Hank Angelo has acknowledged "mistakes were made" in the department's search procedures.
About three weeks after Kimble's tape was released to the press, a videotape surfaced that showed the chief and Patrol Officer Manny Nites giving close-up views of their eyeballs.
The two were in the parking lot of 77 Soul, and the nightclub's owner say the officers were harassing his friend, who was the cameraman.
The chief said he and his officer were joking. The mayor is now reviewing the chief's actions.
sinkovich@vindy.com