Former interim chief won't serve any time

Kenneth Oyler has been ordered to repay more than $2,000.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- The former interim city police chief accused of using city-issued credit cars to buy gasoline for his personal vehicle will not be going to jail, but will have to repay the money.
Police Sgt. Kenneth P. Oyler, who had served as acting chief from August to November, was charged with two counts of theft in office related to the gas purchases. Oyler abruptly retired from the department in early November without giving a reason.
Plea agreement
The former officer stood silent before Girard Municipal Court Judge Michael Bernard as terms of a plea agreement in the case were read. Under the agreement, the two felony charges were amended to two misdemeanor charges of misuse of a credit card.
Oyler pleaded no contest to the amended charges and was found guilty. Judge Bernard sentenced him to one year of probation, a total of $1,000 in fines, with $900 suspended, and ordered that he pay restitution to the city of Hubbard in the amount of $2,172.
Attorney Rob Koker, representing the city in the absence of Law Director Gary Gilmartin, said the money for restitution will be taken directly from Oyler's severance package.
Koker said the plea agreement is a good arrangement for both sides.
"When you are in court, it is a matter of what you can prove," he said. "An important factor is getting this money back into the city coffers."
Mayor's reaction
Hubbard Mayor Art Magee said the plea agreement did not dole out harsh enough punishment on the former interim chief. He said jail time should have been a consideration.
"He is a public official. The public puts a lot of trust in these people and he betrayed that trust," Magee said. "This is public money. The punishment did not fit the crime."
Magee said payment restitution is expected and is, therefore, no big deal to Oyler since the money will be deducted from money the city owes him. Magee contended the entire situation is an embarrassment to the community, police department and city administration.
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 officer radioed headquarters to give his location and what he 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.
jgoodwin@vindy.com