POLICE Martin retires from main job

The police official has not left his part-time job as Fowler Township chief.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- Police captain James Martin, accused of paddling numerous juveniles as part of a juvenile diversion program, will retire at month's end.
Martin, also a part-time police chief in Fowler, pleaded innocent Wednesday to charges in a 52-count indictment. He sent a letter Monday to Howland trustees stating his last date of employment will be May 31.
He is on an unpaid suspension, said Darlene St. George, Howland Township administrator.
Trustees are expected to approve Martin's retirement during a May 12 meeting, St. George said.
"I have been privileged to serve the people of Howland Township for nearly 33 years," Martin's letter stated. " I am proud of my record of service with the township, as I have been given many opportunities over the years of my service to help make a difference in the lives of the many families and individuals I have served."
Contacted by telephone, Martin said he had planned to retire this year and his decision has nothing to do with the criminal investigation.
What's on wall plaque
"The wall plaque that has hung in my office for many years truly reflects my personal dedication to serve my God and those I was sworn to protect," Martin's resignation letter states.
"The plaque reads as follows: This is the beginning of a new day. God gave me this day to use as I see fit. I can waste it, or grow in its light and be of service to others. But, what I do with this day is important because I have exchanged a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. I hope I do not regret the price I paid for it."
State and federal officials are investigating Martin's juvenile diversion program, which used corporal punishment. The program was being operated out of the Fowler Township Police Department.
Tom Carr, a Fowler Township trustee, says Martin has not resigned the part-time chief's position. He is on an unpaid leave, Carr said.
Martin, free on a $2,500 bond, is facing 20 counts of dereliction of duty; 11 counts of misdemeanor assault; seven counts of unauthorized photography; 12 counts of using a sham legal process; and two felony counts of theft in office, said Dave Toepfer, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor.
Authorities said the charge of sham legal process means Martin showed juveniles a document that appeared official but in reality had no legal standing and was not lawfully issued.
The indictment further states that Martin used a wooden paddle on several juvenile and adult victims numerous times as part of the diversion program. The adults were 18 and 20 years old. All the victims were male, officials said.
Videotape
The counts of unauthorized photography stem from videotape recordings made of the victims while they were being paddled, the indictment states. The videos were not stored at the police department but were kept at James Martin's home, the indictment states.
The theft-in-office charge states that Martin took a police file, videotapes, physical evidence and diversion program files from 1975 to 1992 from the Howland Township police department. The records were stored in his basement, the indictment states.
Martin's attorney, Dominic Vitantonio, said his client operated the diversion program in an attempt to help juveniles stay out of trouble.
"For him, corporal punishment was a part of the disciplinary process and that is how he grew up," Vitantonio said. "It was not abusive. He did it because he thought it would help."
sinkovich@vindy.com