WARREN Police Chief Mandopoulos gets reprimand, faces hearing

The chief threatened to organize a boycott of Vindicator and WFMJ advertisers.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A predisciplinary hearing for Police Chief John Mandopoulos has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 6.
Mayor Hank Angelo sent a letter to the chief Thursday advising him of the hearing and telling him he has been administratively charged with gross neglect of duty, gross dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer.
Mandopoulos could not be reached.
The mayor declined to say what type of discipline the police chief faces.
The charges stem from the chief's actions during a stop this spring at 77 Soul, a nightclub.
A videotape shows the chief and Patrolman Manny Nites sticking their faces up to the camera and making fun of the cameraman.
The owner of the club has said the police were harassing the cameraman. The chief has said he was joking.
Reprimand in writing
"You failed to manage and/or control an officer or officers under your authority for conduct unbecoming an officer, discourteous treatment of the public, dereliction of duty, and an officer at the scene using profane terms and racial epithets," the letter states.
"Further, on that night, your actions as the Chief of Police violated the City of Warren department of police policy and procedure manual."
The letter also states the chief confronted a television reporter in an attempt to intimidate or to threaten her.
The mayor attached a letter from Atty. Stephen T. Bolton, who represents WFMJ Television.
According to Bolton's letter, on Aug. 1 Mandopoulos had a conversation with Michelle Nicks, a reporter for WFMJ. The conversation dealt with several issues, including the 77 Soul videotape.
Threats alleged
"During the conversation, [Mandopoulos] said he was going to give the home addresses of all the reporters of local media to drug dealers and he asked Michelle Nicks how she would like it if they [drug dealers] moved next door to her," Bolton's letter states.
"Chief Mandopoulos expressed his anger to the reporting of allegations against his department. He stated that he had the means to give the drug dealers this information since the addresses [of the reporters] were public record."
The chief also told Nicks he was going to get area labor unions together to organize a boycott of businesses that advertise with The Vindicator and WFMJ, Bolton's letter states.
The mayor's letter says the chief's actions regarding Nicks were a violation of the department's police policy and procedure manual.
sinkovich@vindy.com