Chief’s fate to be made public

The chief also was reprimanded in October.

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — City officials will announce the final resolution of the most recent disciplinary action against Police Chief John Mandopoulos on Wednesday.

Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin had earlier said his office would reveal his decision on Mandopoulos’ fate Monday.

But late Monday afternoon, Roselyn Ferris, secretary to Franklin and Mayor Michael O’Brien, said no announcement would be made until Wednesday.

Mandopoulos was not at work Friday or Monday, Ferris said, but she was not able to say how long that would continue. Published reports said the chief would be on sick leave for two weeks.

Franklin said Friday he had decided on the punishment Mandopoulos would face but would wait until the chief returned to work deliver it to him.

Franklin had a hearing in February to allow Mandopoulos to tell Franklin what happened in November, when Gary Cicero, the city’s human resources director, came to the police department for a meeting and was searched on his way into the building.

Cicero filed a complaint against Mandopoulos, saying the chief maliciously ordered the search even before Cicero reached the metal detector.

Cicero also said that after the search, the chief prevented him from getting to his meeting with Capt. Tim Bowers regarding the bumping rights of an employee who was going to be affected by 20 layoffs in the police department that took effect Jan. 1.

Mandopoulos said his treatment of Cicero had to do with “whether [Cicero] can circumvent security or not.”

Mandopoulos has been chief since December 2000 and a Warren police officer since Nov. 1, 1973.

Franklin reprimanded the chief in October for remarks he made to Councilman Dan Crouse regarding loss of overtime in the police department in August.