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ST. CLAIRSVILLE - A disciplinary matter within the St. Clairsville Police Department spilled over into public view last week when the outgoing mayor released a letter addressed to Officer T.J. Stewart.
The matter will be decided by newly sworn-in Mayor Kathryn Thalman, though it originated under the previous administration.
On Dec. 30, outgoing mayor Terry Pugh released to the media a letter addressed to Stewart. It details a pre-disciplinary hearing held Dec. 27 before Safety and Service Director Jim Zucal, who reportedly found there was sufficient reason for Stewart to be disciplined. In St. Clairsville, it is the mayor's responsibility to impose discipline.
The letter refers to three apparent infractions, first alleging that Stewart engaged in personal business while on the job for about 45 minutes before being caught by then-police chief Jeff Henry and ordered to go back on patrol. A second infraction reportedly occurred when a resident approached Stewart and told the officer he had been the victim of an assault. Stewart allegedly failed to conduct an investigation or make a report.
"I cannot express to you how disturbed I am that you would fail to take any action when a resident reports a possible crime to you," Pugh wrote to Stewart.
In the third incident, Stewart allegedly left his shift four hours early without notifying other on-duty officers.
Pugh added that Stewart had received approximately seven prior reprimands in the past three years for such infractions as not completing reports, leaving windows down in his patrol car and not filing documents with the courts in a timely manner. Pugh said Stewart also received a two-week suspension in 2018 that was later reduced to a four-day suspension after arbitration. Pugh said Stewart later received a 30-day suspension as well. Pugh also wrote that Stewart made false statements during polygraph examinations.
Pugh concluded that since the mayoral administration was about to change -- and after a phone call from Thalman that he described as "very demanding" -- he would honor her request to defer any imposition of discipline to her.
Interim Police Chief Mike Troullos declined to comment on the matter. Troullos was appointed interim chief after Henry retired in mid-December. Thalman's administration will appoint a permanent chief.
Gwen Callender, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, issued a statement about the matter on Friday.
"Stewart, a 27-year veteran, has been the subject of several years of ongoing retaliatory and disparate treatment and discipline by members of the former city administration. The Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Council Inc. has vigorously defended Officer Stewart during these allegations," she states.
Callender said a neutral arbitrator recognized dysfunction and selective treatment of Stewart by Henry. She added that a review of Henry conducted last spring in a discriminatory harassment complaint investigation found Henry appeared to unjustifiably target Stewart. Henry was cleared of any wrongdoing in that investigation.
Regarding the release of personnel information, Callender said, "Outgoing and defeated former Mayor Terry Pugh decided to let his acrimonious, political, and misguided opinion of Officer Stewart influence not only the contents of the letter but the distribution of its contents to many, including various media outlets.
"The FOP, Ohio Labor Council, Inc. recognizes and understands the importance of the public being aware of the internal workings of its public agencies. We look forward to working with the new mayor and her administration. We anticipate the new administration will ensure that Officer Stewart will receive a fair hearing and be cleared of the previous administration's allegations," she wrote.
Stewart did not respond to requests for comment, but an FOP representative said the union would speak on his behalf.
On Dec. 27, a small rally was held outside the city building that included several off-duty police officers and reportedly with the support of others who were on duty. Councilman Perry Basile and Councilwoman Terra Butler spearheaded the rally "in support of the police." Basile afterward said the rally was related to a disciplinary matter that he hoped would be deferred to the incoming administration. He went on to say he hoped the matter would be dismissed altogether.
Thalman offered no comment about how the matter might be resolved, but she did speak about Pugh's release of the information and his description of their phone conversation.
"I thought it showed very poor judgment and was very indiscreet for the mayor to release what, to me, would be personnel information, especially on an investigation that was still ongoing. I thought that was not the right thing to do," Thalman said.
She also took exception to Pugh describing her phone call to him as "demanding."
"I had a witness who listened on my call, and I guarantee it was nothing but diplomatic and just that what I asked him is to make sure he's doing the best thing for the city," she said. "We will move forward, we will get through this, and we look for some very exciting and wonderful things to happen to St. Clairsville."