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Former police chief back to work
Details of the agreement still have not been released.
GIRARD — Details regarding Frank Bigowsky’s deal with the city have not been officially released, but the embattled former police chief is back to work full time.
Bigowsky was demoted from chief to patrolman after charges that he taught private classes while on city time, engaged in conduct that undermines the civil service hiring process and disregarded a valid direct order to meet daily with Mayor James Melfi.
Bigowsky contested the decision, leading to a hearing last month.
An Aug. 28 letter to the Girard Civil Service Commission from Atty. Dennis Haines, Bigowsky’s lawyer, said the former chief withdrew the appeal of his demotion because an “amicable resolution” was reached with the city. The details in that resolution have yet to be disclosed.
Safety/Service Director Jerry Lambert said the agreement will be made public as soon as attorneys for the city and Bigowsky approve the wording in the official agreement.
Lambert confirmed Bigowsky has been reporting for duty full time as a patrolman since the resolution was reached. He said the former chief’s rate of pay could not be disclosed until the agreement has been made public. There will likely be more details about Bigowsky’s pay rate and future with the department when the resolution is made public, he added.
Bigowsky has been reporting to work on the day-turn shift.
Now that the official hearings have come to an end, city officials and Bigowsky can begin to calculate the legal costs associated with the battle.
Lambert said the city has not received an official bill from Atty. Eugene Nevada, who represented the city.
Bigowsky, who will shoulder his legal expenses without any help from the city, may get a little help from friends and supporters.
A flier making its way to various police departments and law enforcement agencies is asking supporters of the former chief to participate in a “Friends of Frank Golf Outing” Sept. 21 at the Mahoning Country Club in Girard.
The $60 cost to participate will go toward legal bills incurred by Bigowsky in his fight against the city.
A man answering the phone at a contact number on the flier refused to give his name or any additional information about the golf outing. He simply said the event would be “no big deal.”
“All we are doing is trying to help him out a little bit. It won’t be anything outlandish, just a group of friends helping him out a little,” the man said.
jgoodwin@vindy.com