Thursday, January 22, 2004
Some licenses were in the officer's possession for nearly a year, the probe found.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Drivers were stopped, but their licenses stayed on the move in a city police car.
The driver's licenses of 14 people were found in the cruiser assigned to Police Officer Joseph Kistler, according to an internal investigation completed by Capt. Michael J. Vugrincic.
Some of the licenses had been in Kistler's possession for close to a year, the report states.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos has found Kistler guilty of violating the department's policy on professional conduct. He recommended that Kistler receive three days off without pay.
Kistler, who could not be reached to comment, is appealing the recommendation.
Attached to the internal investigation is a written statement from Kistler, stating that it was an oversight that the licenses were not returned.
"During the course of a traffic stop, the occupants of the vehicle were asked for their identification," Kistler's statement reads. "Rather than hold the identification in my hand, potentially occupying a hand that may be needed in situations of danger, the identification is placed in my rear pocket until completion of the traffic stop."
The statement further notes that he and his partner make several hundred traffic stops per year.
He further stated that if he did forget to return the identification, it would be placed in the patrol unit and could be easily returned.
The internal report, however, states that one woman who was stopped Nov. 10 came to the police station three times to get her license and did not receive a response from Kistler.
After hearing the woman's complaint, Vugrincic said he went to locate Kistler. When the captain was unable to find him, he went to Kistler's home and inspected the cruiser, which was in the driveway. The licenses were located in the cruiser, the report states.
Kistler's stateme nt also notes that he is unhappy with the way the internal investigation was handled.
"First of all, during my tour of duty, I normally operate in the company of a common partner. However, the charging officer automatically assumes or simply believes I am solely responsible for failing to return the citizens' identification," the statement reads.
Kistler's partner, Edward Hetmanski, gave a written statement that reads that he does not recall if he ever placed any subject's property in the cruiser.
Kistler also added that he did not believe Vugrincic had the right to inspect his cruiser when he wasn't there.
"The public has, over the past several months, expressed mistrust of the police department, and unfortunately, until you experience such acts, you keenly become aware of the level some officers are willing to stoop in order to accomplish an agenda," Kistler's statement reads.
Other concerns
Meanwhile, Mayor Michael O'Brien and the city's safety-service director said they are concerned about two other recent internal investigations. They plan to review the reports to find out what, if any, action needs to be taken.
Doug Franklin, safety-service director, said he requested and received copies of the reports on Detective Dewey Gray and Sgt. John Yuricek and Patrol Officers Tim Parana and Chris O'Rourke. He said he hopes to discuss the matter with the chief in the next few days.
The internal report on Gray found that he violated procedures when he had a patrol officer give him two guns that should have been kept in an evidence room. The report on Yuricek, Parana and O'Rourke stated that they treated a city resident in an unprofessional manner and that Yuricek may have wrongfully arrested a man.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos has not said what discipline he will issue for the officers. He said he didn't believe any action would be taken related to the possible wrongful arrest.
"That would be a judicial matter, and I don't think the internal affairs officer should determine that," the chief said.
sinkovich@vindy.com