Ex-chief to repay city for gasoline

The public needs to know how much money is owed the city, the mayor said.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- The former acting police chief agreed earlier this month to make restitution for gasoline he took for private use using a department credit card, the law director says.
"He agreed to pay back the money when he retired," Atty. Gary Gilmartin said Monday of Ken Oyler.
Gilmartin, who also serves as an assistant prosecutor in Girard Municipal Court and is in charge of the Oyler probe, also said the former chief will most likely be charged criminally.
Oyler could not be reached to comment.
Oyler suddenly retired from the department Nov. 8. James Taafe, current acting chief, said gasoline was being pumped into a private vehicle rather than a police car by a police officer, but he wouldn't identify the officer.
The department pumps its gas at Shell True North, a convenience store adjacent to the city administration building.
A store employee tipped off Sgt. Lou Carbone about the questionable use of a credit card. Carbone took the information to city officials, according to a police report.
Target of probe
City Auditor Michael Villano, who is doing the accounting in the case, has identified Oyler as the target of the investigation.
Villano is attempting to determine how much Oyler will be billed for the gasoline. He said Monday the process is nearly complete.
Mayor Arthur U. Magee said the city owes it to the public to know how much money Oyler owes.
Oyler agreed as part of his retirement to pay back the cost of any gasoline he had taken through the improper use of a credit card, Gilmartin said.
Gilmartin said Oyler was taking the gasoline for private use for about two weeks before he retired.
The city had issued 12 credit cards to the department. One was assigned to each marked cruiser and one each to the car the chief drives and the detective's car.
When an officer assigned to a cruiser needed gas or oil, the officers radioed headquarters to get its location and what the officer was doing.
The chief and detective were not required to radio in when gassing up.
The procedure has been changed to provide more accountability with the use of fewer cards, Taafe has said.
yovich@vindy.com