Liberty chief requests investigation

Staff report

Liberty

Police Chief Richard Tisone requested an internal investigation after a 24-year police officer was charged with driving under the influence in late October.

Sgt. Dan Nichols, who pleaded not guilty to the charges Nov. 1 in Girard Municipal Court, is working throughout the investigation, the chief said.

Driving drunk “is not tolerated,” Tisone said. “But we need to look into it before we pass judgment.”

On Oct. 29, Tisone said Liberty police responded to an accident at the intersection of Sodom Hutchings Road and Tibbetts Wick Road. Nichols, according to the Girard court filing, caused the accident.

When the Liberty policemen realized it was one of their own, they called the Ohio State Highway Patrol to make the arrest, Tisone said. Because the DUI is a misdemeanor of the first degree, the police department is required to have an internal investigation, the chief said.

Tisone sent out the request for investigation Nov. 1 and asked for a decision within 30 days. He said there have been no other incidents with Nichols involving alcohol.