Former police officer sentenced with choice of jail or house arrest

The ex-cop is forbidden from coming on police department grounds.

By ANGIE SCHMITT

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

STRUTHERS — A former police officer who pleaded guilty to embezzling $4,800 from the Fraternal Order of Police escaped mandatory jail time in a sentencing hearing Wednesday.

Visiting Judge William Kobelak made sympathetic remarks before sentencing Thomas Granchie, former FOP secretary/treasurer, to 30 days in jail or 90 days’ house arrest. Granchie will be allowed to make that decision over the next few days.

“I want to look at him as a person with both good and bad things in his life,” the judge said. “This black cloud hanging over his head is always going to be there.”

Originally charged with felony theft, Granchie pleaded guilty to reduced charges of misdemeanor theft May 1. He resigned from the police department April 17. He has made full restitution to the police union.

Before sentencing, the Struthers probation department conducted an “exhaustive” investigation, Judge Kobelak said. Still, the judge asked Granchie to review his role in the theft.

What happened

Granchie admitted to siphoning money from the FOP electronic accounts for personal uses.

“I deeply regret those actions,” said Granchie. “I would hope that 30 years of service provided to the city of Struthers will not be blackened.”

Granchie also was sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. As a special term of his probation, Judge Kobelak has forbidden Granchie from police department grounds except to report a crime.

“Don’t let this paralyze you,” the judge said. “You have some issues in your life, and you’re going to have to deal with those issues.”

FOP president Ray Greenwood said his organization participated in the investigation and made recommendations regarding sentencing, he said.

“We didn’t recommend jail time,” he said. “On behalf of the whole FOP, we were satisfied with the results.”

Judge Kobelak was appointed to the case by the Ohio Supreme Court after Judge James Lanzo recused himself, citing close ties with the police department.