Saturday, January 28, 2017
By Sarah Lehr
CAMPBELL
Former Campbell Police Chief Drew Rauzan has agreed to resign in exchange for the city’s rescinding his termination.
The agreement prohibits Rauzan from suing the city.
Mayor Nick Phillips fired Rauzan on Nov. 7 after Phillips said the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation found evidence of sexual misconduct on Rauzan’s part. The BCI has not yet released documents from its investigation to the media.
Dan Kasaris, a special prosecutor with Ohio Attorney General’s office, continues to investigate Rauzan for potential criminal conduct. Charges have not been filed.
Rauzan’s attorney Damian Billak said his client does not admit wrongdoing via the agreement and continues to deny the sexual-assault allegations.
The ex-chief’s resignation takes effect retroactively to the date he was fired.
Rauzan had initially been set to appeal his termination via the city’s civil-service commission Friday, but agreed to waive his right to a civil-service hearing.
“We’re just happy to move on,” Billak said Friday.
By consenting to the agreement, the city does not admit to wrongdoing in having fired Rauzan.
“I’m glad it’s all over,” Campbell Law Director Brian Macala said of Rauzan’s appeal.
Rauzan’s accuser would have testified under oath before the commission if the hearing had proceeded, Macala said.
According to Phillips, a woman reported to the mayor Sept. 3 that Rauzan had contacted her in July about a warrant out for her arrest, asked her to come to the station and then made sexual advances toward her. The mayor placed the chief on paid administrative leave Sept. 6, pending a BCI investigation.
Phillips appointed Dennis Puskarcik as the new top cop Jan. 6.
Rauzan was the last Campbell police chief to serve with civil-service protections. Last November, Campbell voters approved an amendment to the city’s charter so that the police and fire chiefs will instead serve at the pleasure of the mayor. The charter review commission drafted the proposed amendment at Phillip’s request.