WARREN Officer complaint raises dispute

The Urban League president wants further review.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A departmental report says a complaint against a police officer is inconclusive, despite a statement from a police department secretary who said she saw the officer yell and grab the man who had come to file the complaint.
An internal investigation into Randall Morgan's complaint was released Thursday. Morgan states in his complaint that he was mistreated when he was arrested on disorderly conduct charges Oct. 25 and Oct. 27.
The complaint states that Morgan was first arrested Oct. 25 when walking on Fourth Street and was arrested the second time Oct. 27 when he went to the police station to file a complaint against the arresting officer, Chris O'Rourke.
According to the report completed by Lt. Joseph Marhulik, Greg Hicks, the city law director, reviewed the information and found that no violation took place during the Oct. 25 arrest and that the Oct. 27 arrest was inconclusive.
Hicks denies ruling
Hicks said that he does not know why Marhulik's report says that he ruled on either matter.
"I'm not the investigator," Hicks said. "I gave no recommendation. It's not for me to recommend."
Marhulik did not state on the report his recommendation. And he declined to comment on the matter.
Morgan said in his complaint that he was mistreated during the Oct. 25 arrest, so he went to the chief's office to file a complaint.
Morgan's complaint states he was sitting in the police chief's office when O'Rourke came up to him and asked him what he was doing. He said that when he told the officer he was there to file a complaint, the officer grabbed him and told him to get out of the office.
O'Rourke said in the incident report on the matter that Morgan swore at him, jumped up and refused to be escorted out.
Secretary's side
Karen Bogan, the police chief's secretary, however, said she did not hear Morgan say anything to O'Rourke. She said O'Rourke asked Morgan what he was doing there and when Morgan told him, the officer began yelling at him and told him to get out of the office.
"He [O'Rourke] grabbed him by the arms to get him out of the chair," Bogan's statement reads. "Mr. Morgan was trying to shrug Officer O'Rourke off."
Morgan also stated that Oct. 25, O'Rourke ordered him on the ground and arrested him for jaywalking.
The arrest report states that around 3 a.m. Oct. 25, O'Rourke saw Morgan walking in the middle of Fourth Street and turning diagonally toward Highland.
O'Rourke's report says that he told Morgan to stop and come forward but that Morgan didn't comply. The report says Morgan had his hands in his pockets and the officer had to run to catch up with him.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos could not be reached to comment.
Urban League leader
"I strongly urge the safety-service director to send this complaint back for more review," said Thomas Conley, president of the Warren-Trumbull Urban League. "It is my understanding that a police officer will not retaliate against anyone who filed a complaint. I believe this needs to be reviewed again."
Doug Franklin, safety-service director, says he plans to look over the investigation and may send it back to Marhulik for further review.
sinkovich@vindy.com