Case against Warren police Capt. Janice Gilmore proceeds

Staff report

WARREN

Warren Safety-Service Director Enzo Cantalamessa has affirmed the decision of Warren Police Chief Eric Merkel placing Capt. Janice Gilmore on 30 days’ unpaid suspension for her use of a pejorative term to describe an Italian co-worker.

The matter now can proceed to arbitration, but no decision has been made on whether that type of appeal will be filed, said Lt. Dan Mason, a union representative for the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, which represents management employees of the police department.

Gilmore, a 26-year employee, used the term during a meeting with U.S. Justice Department officials in July. Fellow captain Robert Massucci had just walked out of the room when Gilmore uttered the word, telling the officials she has a history with Massucci’s family.

Massucci said he overheard the remark, and Gilmore walked into Massucci’s office and repeated it to him.

Massucci, who is in charge of the investigative division, testified at a predisciplinary hearing that he did not think it was funny. Gilmore is in charge of the road-patrol division.

“While I recognize Capt. Gilmore’s 26 years of relatively unblemished service to the city of Warren, the act of referring to Capt. Massucci (who was acting chief at the time) as a ‘xxxx’ demonstrated a serious lack of judgment and professionalism,” Cantlamessa said in a letter Monday.

The use of the term was “further exacerbated” by who she said it in front of – officials there to ensure all members of the community are treated fairly, Cantalamessa said.