Hearing is held on officer's conduct

The Urban League director said the officer should be disciplined.
WARREN -- A hearing has been held to determine if a city police officer who was caught on videotape last year using a racial slur should be disciplined.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos said Monday that he had a hearing for Patrol Officer Manny Nites, but the chief declined to say what, if any, disciplinary charges the officer faces. He also declined to say when the hearing was held.
"I don't have to say a word on anything that happens in this department," Mandopoulos said. "I may have to give documents, but I don't have to make any statements."
Doug Franklin, city safety-service director, said he knows that the chief met with Nites' attorney Randall Weltman last week but did not know what took place.
Weltman was out of the office Monday and could not be reached.
"This matter was made very, very public and the public deserves to know the outcome," said Tom Conley, director of the Warren-Trumbull Urban League. "I can't believe that this is just coming up for a hearing because it's been going on for more than a year."
Conley said he felt Nites should be disciplined for his behavior and for statements he made on a videotape while in the parking lot of nightclub 77 Soul.
The tape was made May 24, 2003, by Charlie Adams, a friend of LaShawn Ziegler. Ziegler operated the nightclub. Adams was videotaping in the club parking lot.
The chief and Nites were seen on the videotape sticking their eyes into the camera lens. The chief has maintained that he and Nites were just joking with Adams, but Adams has contended he didn't consider the matter a joke. Adams said he felt threatened.
Racial slur
Nites can be heard on the tape using a racial slur and calling the cameraman a snitch.
In December, the chief received a 10-day suspension on administrative charges stemming from his actions at the club and allegations that he told a television reporter that he would give addresses of local journalists to drug dealers.
The chief has denied the allegations. As long as he attends training seminars he will not have to serve the suspension, the city's civil service commission ruled.
Fred Harris, former safety-service director, and former Mayor Hank Angelo ordered Mandopoulos in November to take disciplinary action against Nites.
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