Weathersfield to decide if it will replace officer

By Ed Runyan

The police chief said the investigation on the matter began earlier this month.

MINERAL RIDGE — A decision on whether to replace a veteran Weathersfield Township police officer will be made after the Nov. 4 general election, a township official said.

Jeff Eazor has resigned his full-time position with the department after an internal investigation showed that evidence Eazor handled was missing.

Eazor, 48, of Weathersfield, submitted his resignation to township trustees Oct. 14, citing personal reasons. The resignation is effective Oct. 31. He has been on leave from the department since Oct. 3.

Police Chief Joseph Consiglio said the department began an investigation Oct. 3 of a Sept. 28 traffic stop conducted by Eazor that resulted in the arrest of a person on a warrant.

During the stop, Eazor confiscated a small amount of suspected marijuana from the vehicle, but the drug was never placed in the department’s evidence locker, Consiglio said.

Consiglio said he cannot comment on where the suspected marijuana went instead of the evidence locker.

Eazor has had previous disciplinary issues and was suspended one time several years ago, Consiglio said. Consiglio declined to elaborate on Eazor’s disciplinary issues.

The loss of the evidence was discovered during a routine review of the case, Consiglio said, not as a result of a complaint or tip.

“He didn’t follow policy or procedure in regards to evidence,” Consiglio said, adding that the loss of the evidence did not affect any criminal charges that would have been filed against anyone in the car who may have possessed it.

Consiglio said the department has consulted with the Trumbull County prosecutor’s office on the matter, but he does not believe criminal charges are likely against Eazor.

The investigation is likely to be complete within about a week, the chief said.

Eazor, who worked full time for the department since 1999 and part time since 1994, could not be reached to comment.

The department has eight full-time officers, including the chief. Consiglio said a decision on whether to replace Eazor will be made after the Nov. 4 general election.

The township has two levies on the ballot. Both of them are 3.7-mill continuous replacement levies for police protection. One includes money for emergency medical services and one does not.

runyan@vindy.com