LAWSUIT Bazetta reinstalls police chief

The chief says he plans to return to the job.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
BAZETTA -- The township could soon have a familiar face back as top cop.
Trustees and former Police Chief Robert Jacola reached a settlement this week that includes the veteran officer's being reinstated to the post.
"We have decided that's it's best to have him reinstated," said Atty. Mark Finamore, the township's legal counsel.
"He has been off on workers' compensation, so he may not actually come back to work. He may come back to work or he may apply for a permanent disability and resign."
Trustees could not be reached to comment.
Going back
"I absolutely plan on going back to work," Jacola said Tuesday. "It has always been my intention to return to work. That is why I filed the lawsuit, and I really want to thank my attorney, Gilbert Rucker, for helping me get my job back. It means a lot to me."
Jacola said he is continuing to receive treatment for a back injury and hopes to return to work soon.
The current police chief, Chuck Sayers, will be "acting chief" until Jacola returns, Finamore said.
Sayers could not be reached to comment.
Jacola, 57, chief for 10 years, has been off work since April 2, 2002, because of a work-related injury.
"I'm glad to see that Chief Jacola has the opportunity to continue doing the work that means so much to him, which is protecting the people of Bazetta," Rucker said.
Fired last year
Trustees conducted a special meeting April 28, 2003, and voted to fire Jacola, according to an affidavit attached to the lawsuit Jacola filed in May 2003 in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
The suit argued that trustees had no grounds to get rid of him.
The suit stated trustees abused their discretion by firing Jacola without cause.
The trustees also failed to inform Jacola they were planning to fire him, the court documents say.
He says news of his firing was delivered to him by the press and he was not notified by trustees of the termination until he got a letter May 15, 2003. The letter was dated May 8, 2003.
In their letter to Jacola, the trustees thanked him for his years of service to the township and wished him a "speedy recovery."
Trustee Bill Glancy said at the time that he voted to fire Jacola because the township needs a chief.
sinkovich@vindy.com