As many as 6 could vie to be new chief

Capt. Roberts to forgo Warren police exam

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

WARREN — The field of candidates to replace John Mandopoulos as city police chief apparently includes six people — including two women.

The field would have been just two captains from the department, but one of them is not interested in the job.

Captain is the top rank below chief, so captains are first in line to take the civil service test to become the city’s top cop.

Capt. Tim Roberts, who oversees the detective division, has no desire to take the civil service test to be chief, he said Friday.

Roberts has been a captain longer than any other captain in the department — 13 years — but he has four children ranging in age from 4 to 18 and says his family is his first priority.

Roberts took the test to be chief at the time Mandopoulos got the job in 2000 and has served as acting chief in the past.

But being chief would take him away from his family too much, especially during the evenings, Roberts said, so he wishes to remain in his current job.

Capt. Tim Bowers, who commands the support division that includes dispatching, is interested in taking the test.

Capt. Janice Gilmore, who was appointed captain in command of the patrol officers in July, doesn’t have the required two years as captain to compete head-to-head with Bowers for the job, said Gary Cicero, the city’s personnel director.

But city officials say civil service rules require that there be a competition among candidates for police chief. So with only one captain interested or able to take the test for chief, the field has to be opened up further, meaning lieutenants also will be eligible.

The Warren Police Department has six lieutenants, but two of them don’t have two years in the job required to qualify to for the test, Cicero said.

The four who do are Catherine Giovannone, Tom Skoczylas, Joseph Marhulik and Gary Vingle. As a recent lieutenant, Gilmore most likely qualifies to take the test also, Cicero said, adding that he will seek a clarification on the question before saying for sure.

City officials said Thursday they don’t know when the test will be given.

Mandopoulos resigned as police chief this week in an agreement that calls for him to stay on sick leave until Aug. 10 and then retire.

Bowers has served as acting chief since Mandopoulos last worked April 2.

runyan@vindy.com