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Struthers detective stays on paid administrative leave
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
STRUTHERS
Detective Ray Greenwood continues to be employed by the city after a Friday pre-disciplinary conference, though he remains on paid administrative leave.
Greenwood, who has been with the police department for 15 years and on leave since May 28, declined to disclose any specifics of the city-led investigation against him, which has been ongoing since earlier this year. He said just that he remains confident and hopeful he’ll soon be able to return to work.
“I miss being a police officer,” Greenwood said. “It hurts. It’s very hard. I’ve been a police officer the majority of my life.”
Mayor Terry Stocker said the investigation was prompted by allegations related to the “inappropriate conduct of a police officer,” and that the city felt it had to respond to those “concerns and issues.”
“We will make informed decisions based on the information available to us,” Stocker said.
He added that a decision regarding Greenwood’s employment could come by the first part of next week. That decision, he said, will take into account Greenwood’s answers to questions posed to him during the conference, as well as contributions to the investigation from an individual outside of the city administration.
Almost two dozen of Greenwood’s family members and friends, along with others from the community, gathered at Struthers City Hall to show their support.
Most, like Larry Wood of Struthers, said Greenwood’s being placed on leave stems from a “personal vendetta” that members of city administration have against him. “He’s never been reprimanded over anything or any situation like this,” he added. “I think the people of Struthers are going to lose a valuable officer and a great citizen.”
Family members Frank Billet of Boardman and Keith Greenwood of Mineral Ridge — Ray Greenwood’s father-in-law and his brother, respectively — spoke of his dedication to the job. His brother mentioned that all he ever “wanted to do was be a cop” and that he is “a great cop,” always wanting to help others. His father-in-law said his experience, particularly his spending four years as a military police officer, is invaluable, and that “the administration is making a big mistake.”
Dale Chambers, a retired police officer from Boardman who helped Greenwood get started in law enforcement, blamed the entire situation on “politics — just typical Mahoning County politics.”
“He’s getting a raw deal,” Chambers said. “If this is how people are rewarded for their job, then Struthers isn’t sending a very good message for our young people.”
Lori Greenwood added that problems arose after her husband “got too close to something that was going on in the city of Struthers.” The past few months have been “very hard on us,” she said.
Both Ray and Lori Greenwood said they are grateful for the support.
“It means a whole lot,” Ray Greenwood said. “It tells you that we are a family here at Struthers. Everything should work out the way it should.”