High-ranking Warren cop on leave pending probe into racial slurs

WARREN — Lt. Joseph Marhulik, who was on the verge of becoming the next Warren Police Department captain to fill the vacancy created by Tim Bowers’ elevation to chief, has been placed on paid administrative leave following allegations that he acted inappropriately Aug. 16.

The police department is conducting an internal investigation, though Tim Bowers, acting chief, declined to say who is carrying out the investigation. Two recent investigations involving another police officer were conducted by Sgt. Jeff Cole, the department’s internal affairs officer.

Two citizens filed complaints with the department regarding a man’s behavior at about 11:30 p.m. Aug. 16 on Highland Avenue Southwest.

One of the complaints came from a Fourth Street Southwest man who said he was riding a bicycle near Highland Avenue and Third Street when Marhulik pulled alongside him in a blue Impala, called him a derogatory name for a black person, then made other derogatory remarks.

The man said Marhulik appeared to be intoxicated and had a male in the car with him.

The man on the bicycle went to the Warren police station the next morning and filed a complaint. He said the vehicle Marhulik was driving was at the police department that morning and had the same license plate number.

The second complaint came from a Highland Avenue Southwest man who said he was also riding a bicycle at about that same time on Highland Avenue and was approached by a man in a blue Impala, who used the same derogatory term for a black person and asked him if he was selling crack or had a gun.

The car drove away, and the man said he was informed later that the man inside was a police officer.

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com