Officer fired for illegal search Earlier matter involved Taser

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — Safety-Service Director William “Doug” Franklin has fired police Officer Richard Kovach for an illegal search.

In the termination letter released Thursday, Franklin wrote that Kovach “is removed from the public service of the city and discharged effective immediately.”

Gary Cicero, city human relations director, said Kovach, a 13-year department veteran, can appeal his firing to an arbitrator.

Kovach also is facing suspension for using a Taser on an intoxicated woman during her arrest that brought national attention to the department.

Police Chief John Mandopoulos had recommended to Franklin that Kovach receive a 60-day suspension. Franklin could have decreased the discipline, taken the chief’s recommendation or make it more severe, which he did.

In October, Franklin handed Kovach a 10-day suspension for violating the rights of Tim Brown II when Kovach stopped and searched his vehicle without permission Aug. 23. It was determined that Kovach knew Brown was not a suspect in a murder.

Kovach, who is represented by the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, appealed the suspension.

The union’s position in the case is that there was no just cause for Kovach’s 10-day suspension, and if there were a ruling of just cause, Kovach’s actions mirrored those of the 2003 case of Patrol Officer Edward Hetmanski, who was handed a five-day suspension.

It has been the city’s position that Kovach had stopped Brown, the son of city Patrol Officer Tim Brown, knowing he had the wrong person because Kovach ran a driver’s license check, thus Kovach had no right to search his car.

Kovach contended in his appeal that Brown did not give his name, yet Kovach radioed to police headquarters that: “I have that suspect Tim Brown.”

Kovach also claimed someone yelled “they [Brown’s keys] are on the seat of the car,” giving him reason to enter the car. No one who was around that car heard anyone make the comment, however, Franklin wrote.

Brown had just left USA Gas on South Street Southeast.

“Kovach’s written statement was self-serving and riddled with dishonesty. Considering this dishonesty, I cannot trust Kovach to faithfully, honestly and impartially discharge and perform all of the duties incumbent upon him as a police officer,” Franklin wrote.

In the Taser matter, Mandopoulos has recommended a 60-day suspension for Kovach in the arrest of 38-year-old Heidi Gill of Howland outside the Up A Creek Tavern on East Market Street on Sept. 2.

The chief found that Kovach violated the department’s professional ethics by delivering punishment to Gill with a Taser, thus using unreasonable force.

Mandopoulos also found Kovach did not protect the rights of a prisoner, used inhumane treatment and excessive force.

The chief also determined that Kovach falsified a report, lost control of his prisoner, and allowed her to become unconscious by not controlling her. And, he found that Kovach used the Taser on Gill even after she had stopped screaming and he did not protect her from injury.

yovich@vindy.com