POLICE Expenses rack up over strip searches

The deductible jumped from $25,000 per lawsuit to $250,000, the auditor says.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city has spent more than $65,000 in the past year to cover police accused of illegally strip-searching suspects, and with additional lawsuits pending, that amount is expected to increase.
Since March 19, 2003, the city has had to pay out-of-pocket expenses of $88,513.60 to settle lawsuits filed against police officers. From that amount, five of the cases, totaling $66,500, dealt with alleged illegal searches, city officials said.
City officials noted there are still four lawsuits pending. One of those lawsuits, filed by Dominic Gambone of Warren, alleges that he was strip-searched by two officers when he was stopped for a traffic violation in February 2002.
The other three lawsuits are alleging police used excessive force when making arrests.
Greg Hicks, city law director, says he does not know whether the cases will settle or go to trial.
Summerlin case
This past week, the city paid $16,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by Willie Summerlin of Second Street.
Summerlin said that patrol officers Joseph Kistler and Edward Hetmanski violated his constitutional rights during a traffic stop Dec. 30.
Summerlin has said he was humiliated when Hetmanski searched him and grabbed his crotch area. The search was done in front of his friend's home on Iowa Street and was videotaped by his friend's grandchildren.
Mayor Michael O'Brien and Doug Franklin, the city's safety-service director, said they are hoping the 40 hours of additional training each police officer is receiving this year will help reduce the lawsuits.
Part of that training will deal with searches, O'Brien said, noting the lawsuits were filed the year prior to him taking office.
"This training is ongoing," O'Brien said. "There will be additional training. It won't just stop this year."
Police Chief John Mandopoulos could not be reached to comment.
Insurance deductible
The numerous lawsuits have caused the city's insurance deductible to increase tenfold, said city auditor Dave Griffing.
"Our deductible for each lawsuit was $25,000 per suit, which meant that is all we would have to pay per lawsuit," Griffing said. "That amount has now been increased to $250,000. When I saw that amount, the first thing I did was call the law department to find out what we could do about it."
Jim Sanders, an assistant city law director, said because there are pending cases against the city this would not be the right time to go try to change insurance carriers.