Girard officer resigns

Staff report

girard

A Girard patrol officer with a history of disciplinary problems that led to a “last chance” agreement in March has resigned for personal reasons, Mayor Jim Melfi said.

Patrol officer Larry Neely’s resignation was effective Tuesday, Melfi said Tuesday evening.

Neely had been given the last chance agreement along with 20 days’ unpaid leave after an underage drinking party at his home.

Melfi had said in March that the two-year agreement included language that would allow for Neely’s immediate termination if he didn’t adhere strictly to the police department’s policies and procedures.

Melfi said Tuesday that Neely was not fired.

Police chief Jeff Palmer could not be reached Tuesday to comment.

Police broke up an underage drinking party at a garage on Neely’s property Feb. 8, making numerous arrests.

Neely was not home at the time. His wife and 18-year-old stepson were eventually charged with hosting offenses in connection with the party.

Palmer said in February that police believed there were six to eight months’ worth of parties held in the garage, and he said that Neely’s disciplinary file is extensive. It included not responding to two calls in one night from a dispatcher, which resulted in a 10-day suspension.

Neely had been with the department since 2008.