Chief: I can’t answer complaint

By Ed Runyan

It is the second complaint filed against the chief since August.

WARREN — Police Chief John Mandopoulos said he doesn’t plan to respond to the complaint filed against him and one of his police officers by Gary Cicero, the city’s human resources director, until an investigation has been done by a third party.

Mandopoulos said he has not responded to Cicero’s complaint because he’s not in a position to investigate himself, adding that the U.S. Justice Department has established a procedure to handle such complaints, and answering Cicero’s complaint directly to Cicero would not follow those procedures.

Cicero, meanwhile, said he eventually will be forced to refer his complaint to the Justice Department if Mandopoulos doesn’t respond.

Cicero filed the complaint Dec. 17 with Mandopoulos, complaining of his treatment at the entrance to the police department Nov. 14.

Cicero said he believes he was illegally searched by police officer Patrick Hoolihan and that the chief was disrespectful while Cicero was conducting his official duties.

Cicero’s complaint says Mandopoulos’ actions violated the rights of an employee, the rules and regulations of the police department, Ohio law, the union contract governing the employee, and the U.S. Constitution.

Cicero arrived at the police station for a pre-arranged meeting with Capt. Tim Bowers and an employee regarding her bumping rights in relation to layoffs, the complaint says.

Cicero said he had just entered the building and had not even started to walk up the stairs yet or reach the metal detectors when Mandopoulos “started screaming at ... Hoolihan to search me.”

Cicero said he had been in the building thousands of times without ever having been searched. He has security clearance through the municipal court judges, the complaint says.

“I was taken aback by the chief’s attitude and the belligerent way he was ranting and raving about the need to have me searched,” Cicero said. The metal detector did not beep when he traveled through it, Cicero said.

As Cicero proceeded through the metal detector, Mandopoulos and Hoolihan discussed the search: “Mandopoulos heatedly demanding it; Hoolihan calmly suggested it was unnecessary,” the complaint said.

“Following Mandopoulos’ orders, I proceeded to the desk to be searched,” Cicero said in the complaint. “Hoolihan sheepishly had me empty my pockets and asked if I had any knives. I replied ‘no,’ and was cleared to proceed to my meeting,” the complaint said.

Mandopoulos’ explanation for the search, Cicero said, was that “everyone will be treated equally regardless of their public standing,” the complaint said.

Mandopoulos then refused to allow Cicero to enter the office area containing Bowers’ office, citing Cicero’s lack of proper identification, Cicero said.

“Not wanting the incident to escalate, I turned around and left,” Cicero said.

City Councilman Dan Crouse filed a complaint with Franklin over remarks Mandopoulos made to Crouse in August that dealt with a ban on overtime that was instituted to erase a budget shortfall.

Franklin eventually gave Mandopoulos the choice of taking a 30-day suspension without pay or writing an apology to Crouse. Mandopoulos chose the apology.

runyan@vindy.com