Salem patrolman reprimanded for parking cruiser too near tracks

The police chief said the officer will not face time off.

STAFF REPORT

SALEM — A patrolman has received a written reprimand, no traffic charge will be filed, and a police car will be repaired for $4,910.

Police Chief Robert Floor on Tuesday explained the aftermath of a train-cruiser accident that occurred at 12:47 a.m. Nov. 1.

City Patrolman Steve LaRosa had gone to the South Lincoln Avenue railroad crossing while a Perry Township officer was pursuing a man who was illegally driving a four-wheeler on the tracks.

LaRosa was trying to help stop that driver.

Floor; Steve Andres, the city’s safety-service director; LaRosa; and a union prepresentative met Friday to discuss the accident.

LaRosa was parked between two sets of train tracks when he left the cruiser with its emergency lights on.

Floor said the patrolman was concerned about the train’s hitting the four-wheeler.

LaRosa, the chief said, had already radioed Salem police to warn train controllers to beware of the four-wheeler. A westbound train on the northern set of tracks hit the cruiser on its right side near the front tire.

The train, which slowed before it struck the cruiser, had no damage.

The results of the investigation by the Lisbon Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol were turned over to the Columbiana County prosecutor’s office, which decided no charge would be filed.

Floor said that the conversation at the meeting was along the lines of: “It was a mistake. Don’t make it again.”

The chief said the reprimand was not the lowest or highest that could be imposed. That means he will not be penalized with time off.

LaRosa could not be reached.

The city has regular insurance that will pay for the repairs.

The person being chased was Dennis Hecker, 29, of Townsend Avenue, Girard.

He was charged with failure to comply with an order of a police officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.