Ex-YSU chief accused of using vehicle for personal use

YOUNGSTOWN

High mileage and fuel fill-ups throughout Ohio “would lead a reasonable person to believe” that former Youngstown State University Police Chief John Beshara “was using his Jeep for personal use other than travel to and home from work,” an internal investigation report said.

Beshara, chief since 2012, was placed on administrative leave in late April and informed that his contract, which expires June 30, would not be renewed. He retired May 31 from the $86,700-a-year job.

Lt. Shawn Varso has been acting chief since Beshara was placed on leave.

The investigation began last April and centers around Beshara’s use of the university-owned Jeep, a trip to Florida, a BMW car rental and an oceanfront hotel room.

Shannon Tirone, associate vice president for university relations and Beshara’s direct supervisor, generated a spreadsheet showing the gas fill-ups/usage and mileage for Beshara. It detailed by week the number of miles driven, location of gas fill-ups, transaction dates and times and whether Beshara had any days off during a particular week.

The document indicated Beshara drove an average of 89.7 miles per day in September, 98.7 miles in October, 56 miles in November, 73 in December, 63 in January and 62 in February.

It also indicated gas fill-ups on Sundays in Columbus, Mansfield, Sunbury (near Columbus) and Seville (west of Akron).

In his response, Beshara contends “the conclusions within the investigative report omit or overlook several critical points and in some instances reflect a fundamental lack of understanding of the role of law enforcement.”

The Vindicator obtained the documents by submitting a public-records request.

Read more about the matter in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.