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Struthers probing police conduct before September jail hanging
By SARAH LEHR
STRUTHERS
Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene said although his department has not been asked to investigate whether Struthers police complied with policy in the hours before a Sept. 10 hanging death in the city’s jail, he would be willing to conduct an administrative review if asked.
“They haven’t asked me to,” Greene said. “If they would, I’d be more than happy to do it.”
Struthers Capt. Patrick Bundy found Peter Bugno, 43, dead and hanging in a Struthers jail cell about 8:40 am. Sept. 10. Bugno was booked into the jail on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct while intoxicated about four hours before he was found dead.
Records obtained by The Vindicator indicate Struthers police did not comply with procedures for placing inmates on suicide watch and failed to follow jail policy for routine checks of inmates not on suicide watch.
One of the records was a questionnaire that a screening officer is required to complete before booking an inmate. The form, initialed by Bugno and by an officer with the initials “MAL,” includes the question: “Do you have any intention of harming yourself or of committing suicide?”
“Yes” was checked in response to that question.
Bugno was not referred to a mental-health professional or placed under suicide watch, which violates procedure.
The city of Struthers is in the process of conducting an internal review of police conduct prior to Bugno’s death, Mayor Terry Stocker said.
Stocker declined to comment on why the city hasn’t sought an external investigation into procedural compliance. Stocker referred the question to John Travis, an attorney and insurance practice group manager hired by the city from Cleveland-based firm Gallagher Sharp.
Stocker said the city hired Travis for insurance reasons after police found Bugno dead.
Stocker declined to disclose the name of the screening officer who initialed the questionnaire, deferring the question to Travis.
A call to Travis’ office was not returned Tuesday.
Greene, in response to a question about whether he believed the city should have asked the sheriff’s department to conduct either a criminal investigation or an administrative review, said: “I don’t think that’s a fair question. I don’t know the ins and outs of what happened there. ... These are local decisions. I would have to defer to the mayor or the police chief there.”
Struthers Police Chief Tim Roddy could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Struthers Detective Jeff Lewis, coroner’s office investigators and agents with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to the jail after Bundy found Bugno dead.
City police asked the Ohio BCI to process the scene of Bugno’s death, but not to investigate whether Struthers police followed laws and procedures in the hours preceding the hanging, said Mark Moretti, an Ohio Attorney General’s Office spokesman.
“Decisions on whether to seek outside assistance or whether to turn over an investigation to another agency are made on a local level,” Dan Tierney, an Ohio Attorney General’s Office spokesman, said. “Therefore, we defer comment to the local agency on this issue.”
A news release issued by Stocker on Friday afternoon states: “The city takes the tragic events that unfolded in its jail with the utmost seriousness. It is in the process of thoroughly reviewing the situation and investigating the events of that evening to determine whether or not there was any breakdown in protocol or procedures on the part of its personnel. In the event that it is determined that discipline is appropriate due to any action or inaction on the part of its personnel, it will be forthcoming.”
The release also states, “However, please keep in mind that investigating and disciplining a police officer in the employment context is not a simple process.”
Stocker said Tuesday that multiple officials, including the mayor, the police chief and Safety Director Ed Wildes, are conducting the city’s investigation.
The city also has brought in Clemans Nelson & Associates Inc., a labor relations and human-resources management agency, to assist with the investigation. Struthers often contracts with the agency for personnel issues, Stocker said.
Clemans Nelson’s involvement in Struthers’ internal investigation is solely consultation; Clemans Nelson does not have ultimate decision-making power, said Robin Bell, a manager at the agency.
Councilman Michael Patrick, chairman of council’s police and fire committee, is looking into whether the committee legally can hold inquiries into the activities of the police and fire department. A letter dated from last Friday and sent from Patrick to Struthers Law Director Dominic Leone states: “The purpose of these inquiries is to obtain information to have a better understanding of these departments, share this obtained information with other council members, and share with the Struthers citizens. This will also show our citizens they are being represented to the best of our ability with no hidden agendas.”
Stocker and Leone have called a council meeting in executive session for 5:45 p.m. today to discuss a “legal matter.” A 6:15 p.m. caucus session and a 7 p.m. regular meeting will follow. Caucuses and regular meetings are open to the public. Executive sessions are closed.