Justice asks for Warren files

The Justice Department
request is routine, a city
official said.

BY MAYSOON ABDELRASUL

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — The U.S. Department of Justice has requested documents from the Warren Police Department, including use-of-force reports and all internal affairs investigation files.

Safety Service Director Doug Franklin said the federal department routinely requests documents from the police department.

“They have update requests periodically throughout the year, and this is merely one of those requests,” he said.

The case involving Patrolman Richard Kovach’s Tasering of a Howland woman is one of those cases, Franklin said, but the request was not specific to that case.

He said the police department will provide any case involving an officer’s using force.

Franklin said the Department of Justice and the city have two-hour-long teleconference calls quarterly throughout the year to discuss policies and procedures.

“An outside eye has helped us get a different viewpoint of our policies and procedures. It has been beneficial to us,” he said.

The request dated Oct. 31said, “We thank the city of Warren and the WPD for its continued cooperation with this investigation.”

The city provided documents from 2002 through 2005, and now it’s time for the next report, according to Franklin.

Franklin said the DOJ has commended Warren police for not using lethal force. He said the last time the department used lethal force was more than a decade ago.

Other documents requested include disciplinary findings regarding police personnel and any claims involving allegations of strip and body-cavity searches. The letter also said any documents that the police department would like to send for review are accepted.

Kovach is under investigation by the FBI at the request of the city, for the Sept. 2 jolting of a Howland woman. Heidi Gill, 38, was Tasered outside Up A Creek Tavern on East Market Street. She was escorted out of the bar during a disturbance.

A videotape shows Kovach jolting the screaming woman before and after she was handcuffed. She can also be seen trying to kick out the rear window of the police car.