Patrolmanfaces more charges

Granchie is accused of violating the canons of police ethics and the Struthers police code of conduct.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- City police Patrolman Thomas V. Granchie, accused of embezzling 4,800 from the Struthers Fraternal Order of Police account, now faces administrative charges brought by the city.
The administrative charges, which include violating the canons of police ethics and the Struthers police code of conduct, will be discussed at a meeting between Granchie and the city at 9 a.m. Tuesday presided over by Safety-Service Director John Sveda.
Sveda said Granchie, whom the city has charged with embezzling from FOP Local 41 and inappropriately using the money to pay for his own expenditures, may choose to waive the meeting and can have union and/or legal representation.
Granchie, a 25-year veteran of the police force, was notified of the meeting by letter, Sveda said.
Criminal charges
On April 11, Granchie was arraigned in municipal court on a felony theft charge in the FOP's missing 4,800.
At his arraignment, Granchie waived his right to a speedy trial. His pretrial hearing is delayed while the Ohio Supreme Court selects a replacement for municipal Judge James R. Lanzo, who recused himself from the case, citing his close association with the police department.
Granchie was charged after a formal police investigation, begun in December at the request of FOP Local 41, revealed 18 unexplained electronic transfers from the FOP account. Granchie was secretary-treasurer for Local 41. Police said the investigation is continuing.
Ohio Supreme Court spokesman Dennis Whalen said there is no deadline for installing a new judge in a recusal case. The pretrial will resume at the availability of the appointed judge, Whalen said.
Sveda said it is possible that the internal disciplinary process to handle the administrative charges may be completed before the criminal trial.