Police sergeant gets one-day suspension

Trustees also authorized their salaries and that of the fiscal officer.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- A police sergeant has been suspended for a day for not reporting the misconduct of a patrol officer to the police chief.
Sgt. Richard Emerson received the suspension without pay during a special Friday meeting of township trustees.
Trustee Rick Clark said Emerson was the supervisor of former Patrol Officer Jeffrey Zelinsky on March 19. That's when Zelinsky responded to a call about two illegally parked cars that led to the arrest of dentist Dr. George E. Ralph at his Forest Hill Drive home.
Dr. Ralph testified that he was having a party at his home when Zelinsky showed up, entered the residence and pushed him, causing shoulder and ear injuries. The dentist was taken to police headquarters and charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing official business -- charges that were eventually dropped.
Police Chief Paul Monroe said that Zelinsky should never have gone into Dr. Ralph's home. After an Oct. 30 hearing before trustees, the board fired Zelinsky, who has since appealed the action to the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Salaries authorized
In other business, trustees authorized the annual salaries for themselves and the fiscal officer. Trustees Sally Wehmer, Clark and Richard Orwig will each be paid 15,562 in 2007, while Fiscal Officer Sam Delaquila will be paid 23,692. The salaries are set by the state Legislature based on township population and size of its budget.
Also, trustees agreed to continue participation in the Niles-Trumbull Transit System. Trustees will pay the system 8,750 that supplements the cost of ridership for people from member communities.
In addition, trustees hired Paul Minton as an EMS/fire instructor on an as-needed basis. He will be paid 11 hourly when he works as an assistant instructor, 16 as a lead instructor and 8 as a CPR instructor.
yovich@vindy.com