Girard police investigation continues

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

Officials still will not disclose the full extent of the probe.

GIRARD — The investigation into happenings at the city’s police department continues, still with little explanation as to what is being investigated.

Capt. Jeff Palmer was called in for a meeting Wednesday with Safety Services Director Jerry Lambert and Mike Esposito, an attorney representing the city.

Lambert said Palmer is not specifically under investigation. He said officials merely wanted to question Palmer about some things that recently have happened in the department.

City administration has been conducting an investigation into the department and Police Chief Frank Bigowsky, but have been reluctant to say exactly what is being investigated. Bigowsky was placed on paid administrative leave earlier this week pending the outcome. The decision to place Bigowsky on paid leave came after a lengthy interview session, also in Lambert’s office, last week.

“This is in regard to the interviews recently conducted with the police chief,” was all Lambert said he could say about the recent meeting with Palmer.

Lambert said the meeting “went well” and lasted about an hour. Palmer attended the meeting with his union representative.

Palmer was recently a witness to a disagreement turned public blowup between Bigowsky and Mayor James Melfi. The disagreement was during a meeting to discuss a new hire in the police department.

Bigowsky, after the meeting, sent a letter to the civil service commission detailing the meeting at which he, Melfi, Palmer and Lambert were present. In the letter, Bigowsky said the mayor was threatening, demeaning and irate during the mid-April meeting.

Melfi said the letter contained information that was not true.

The civil service commission later ruled that it had no standing to address the matter.

jgoodwin@vindy.com