Cop accused of trying to buy handguns will appeal chief's ruling

The detective's suspension will begin Monday, the chief said.
& lt;a href=mailto:sinkovich@vindy.com & gt;By PEGGY SINKOVICH & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A city police detective found guilty of administrative charges plans to appeal his 40-day unpaid suspension.
A notice of appeal is expected to be filed next week on behalf of Detective Dewey Gray, according to Atty. Randall Weltman.
Gray, who is already on an administrative leave for an unrelated matter, could not be reached to comment.
Weltman, Gray's legal counsel, said shortly after the appeal is filed, a hearing will be held in front of Doug Franklin, the city's safety-service director.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos issued Gray's discipline Friday, 10 days after a disciplinary hearing was held. Gray is a 14-year veteran of the police department.
The suspension is to begin Monday, Mandopoulos said.
Gray was accused of offering to buy a German handgun from an elderly woman.
Ruling
The chief stated in his three-page ruling that he found Gray guilty of two administrative charges, utilizing his position as a police officer to gain advantage in personal matters and for buying an item from a person he came in contact with through his employment.
Internal affairs officers say Gray bought a gun from a person who had turned over two guns to the police department. Gray also offered to buy the second gun, internal affair officers state.
"There is no doubt in my mind that this was being done for Detective Gray's personal gain, even though the elderly lady would receive some compensation for the weapons," Mandopoulos said. "Police officers in this day and age must always be on alert and avoid any situation that could even hint at any type of impropriety."
The chief added in the ruling that Gray's actions in the case have caused fellow officers and the public to question Gray's integrity.
"This has also reflected badly on the image of the police department," the ruling states.
What report says
According to the internal report, a woman called police last September and asked them to take a .32-caliber revolver and a German Luger handgun. The woman's husband was in a nursing home and she no longer wanted the guns in her house.
The detective offered the woman $20 for the revolver and told her he'd have the Luger appraised before making her an offer.
Before getting the guns appraised, he learned an internal investigation had been started and turned the guns over to the department's evidence room, records say.
& lt;a href=mailto:sinkovich@vindy.com & gt;sinkovich@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;