WARREN Internal probe finds 2 officers need more training

The police chief agreed that the officers needed additional training.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Two officers accused of illegally searching a city man Dec. 30 should have received additional training on search and seizures months ago, an internal investigation states.
According to an internal investigation completed in June 2003, Lt. Joseph Marhulik found that Patrolmen Joseph Kistler and Ed Hetmanski should receive additional training on search and seizures. That investigation dealt with the treatment of a Cortland man in April 2003 who was stopped on traffic charges. The man contended the officers did not have the right to search him or his car.
"In my opinion after viewing the mobile video and case law, [Patrolmen] Kistler and Hetmanski should receive additional training on search and seizure," Marhulik's report states. "I feel on some traffic stops they are violating people's constitutional rights."
Chief's response
Police Chief John Mandopoulos said he agreed the officers needed additional training. He said that he didn't remember if the officers were disciplined but that he talked to them about the matter.
"The prior administration [former Mayor Hank Angelo and Safety-Service Director Fred Harris] would not give me the money for training," the chief said. "These two officers and all the officers in the department are now going to get training."
Mayor Michael O'Brien and Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin said their top priority is to make sure all officers receive 40 hours of additional training.
In the complaint filed with the department over the Dec. 30 event, Willie Summerlin of Second Street S.W. stated that when police stopped him and accused him of going through a red light, they subjected him to a pat-down search in which they went through his pockets and grabbed his crotch.
He noted that officers -- Kistler and Hetmanski -- also placed him in the back seat of a cruiser while they searched his vehicle.
Atty. Gilbert Rucker, who represents Summerlin, said the officers violated his client's constitutional rights.
Videotaped stop
Summerlin, 50, said he was driving to a friend's house around 4:30 p.m. that day when police stopped him on Iowa Street S.W. His friend's 10-year-old grandson videotaped the search from inside the house.
Mandopoulos said he can't comment on the Summerlin case because of the ongoing investigation.
The videotape shows Hetmanski patting down Summerlin, looking at items taken from his pockets, then escorting him to the cruiser. Once Summerlin was in the cruiser, the two officers searched his vehicle.
The officers gave Summerlin a ticket for going through a red light. Summerlin has pleaded innocent to the traffic charge and is scheduled to return to court next week.
City Law Director Greg Hicks said the police department's internal affairs division is investigating Summerlin's complaint.
sinkovich@vindy.com