WARREN City police chief faces discipline after hearing with mayor this week

The Warren Coalition is still asking for a change of police leadership.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city's police chief may face disciplinary action as early as today.
Thomas Conley, a member of the Warren Coalition, said today that Mayor Hank Angelo told him he expects to have a predisciplinary hearing with Chief John Mandopoulos sometime this week.
The mayor declined to comment this morning.
"The coalition met with the mayor last week and we were told that we would have an update on the matter this week," Conley said. "The mayor did not tell me what type of discipline may be issued."
Wants change
The Warren Coalition, made up of three members of the black community, has asked for a change in police department leadership.
"Our position has not changed," Conley said.
Angelo and safety-service director Fred Harris have said they are looking into how the chief acted during a stop this summer at 77 Soul, a local nightclub.
A videotape shows the chief and patrol Officer Manny Nites sticking their faces up to the camera and making fun of the cameraman.
The owner of the club says he believes the police were harassing the cameraman. The chief has said he was joking.
Strip searches
The administration also ordered another review into allegations of illegal strip searches by officers during traffic stops.
An internal report released in July states that police officers erred when they strip-searched a man in February 2002.
The chief exonerated the officers, but the mayor and Harris ordered the chief to review the matter again.
"The mayor said he cannot give me an update at this time on the strip searches because they are talking to the city's insurance company because they have so many lawsuits," Conley said.
Since July, four lawsuits have been filed by people contending they were illegally strip-searched when they were arrested.
Angelo said he plans to get an update on the search review in the next few days and will report back to the coalition by next week.
sinkovich@vindy.com