Drama drama in the small town called Aberdeen
Source: http://www.maysville-online.com/articles/2006/10/13/local_news/3513euton.txt
Aberdeen police chief removed, mayor facing charges
By CARRIE CARLSON Staff Writer
Thursday, October 12, 2006 11:08 PM EDT Print this story | Email this story
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ABERDEEN, Ohio -- In a single evening in Aberdeen, the village's acting police chief was ousted from office and the mayor was served with criminal charges.
After a special council meeting on Wednesday night, marked by an extremely lengthy executive session, village council members voted to remove acting Police Chief Joseph Euton from office.
After the executive session, Mayor Robert Meadows read a letter to council and the public, recommending Euton be removed.
The letter
In a letter addressed to council, Meadows said Euton's appointment as "acting chief of police" was intended to be only a temporary appointment. Since Euton has held the position, "the village of Aberdeen has been in a state of constant turmoil concerning the police department," Meadows said in the letter.
The mayor said Euton's actions have caused budgetary issues, scheduling problems, citizen complaints and disruptive council meetings. The mayor called the acting chief "argumentative."
Further into the letter, Meadows cites specific instances of uncooperative behavior. In April, Meadows said Euton hired officer Mick Blankenship against the mayor's will.
"Euton should not have scheduled Mr. Blankenship to work as an Aberdeen police officer until he had been properly appointed," said Meadows.
Euton said he sent Meadows a request to hire Blankenship. Euton said the request allowed Meadows 11 days to make a decision about the officer's employment. After the time was up, Euton said he heard no response from the mayor. Euton then made the decision to schedule Blankenship for work. Blankenship was aware he might not get paid, said the former acting chief.
Euton assured council in July that he had secured funds to purchase a temporary holding cell, said the mayor's letter. Council has since received a bill for the cell, but no funds have been presented, said Meadows.
Euton said Thursday money is on its way for the cell. He said the department received a donation from Woodmen of the World and forwarded the funds to the Brown County Foundation. Three weeks ago, Euton said he requested funds from the foundation be sent to pay for the cell, but the money has not yet appeared. Funds are also available from the department's Riverfest car and bike show, he said.
In the letter's conclusion, Meadows cited the Ohio Revised Code by stating, "all appointments of police officers shall be for a probationary period of six month's continuous service and none shall be finally made until the appointee has satisfactorily served his probationary period."
Even though Euton has served more than six months, Meadows said he has "never transmitted to council a record of his service nor have I ever made a recommendation thereon."
Meadows chose to make his recommendation known Wednesday night with his request to remove Euton.
Meadows said he waited longer than the six month period to "see if things worked out."
The mayor said he has taken no steps without village attorney, Jay Cutrell's, or the council's advice.
"I hope Aberdeen feels we've done the right thing," he said.
The meeting
Euton said he was not made aware of the true purpose of Wednesday's meeting. He believed he was meeting with council to discuss disciplinary action to be taken against other officers. Euton believes he was entitled to know the true nature of the meeting and have legal representation for a hearing by council.
Meadows said Euton was notified of the special council meeting, concerning "police issues."
Criminal charges
After the meeting was over, Aberdeen Police Sgt. Keith Rhinehardt, the man temporarily chosen by Euton as leader of the department, served Meadows with criminal charges for allegedly obstructing official business and trespassing for an event which occurred on Tuesday.
According to Euton, Meadows attempted to take law into his own hands by responding to a domestic relations call. Meadows allegedly responded to the call in his S-10 pick-up truck, opened the door of the home where the call originated, stuck his head in, asked if everything was all right and then shut the door, police said.
The former acting chief said Meadows took the call after he could not reach Euton by phone. No other officer was on duty at the time, said Euton who said he was traveling from Cincinnati and had lost his cell phone connection.
Other action could have been taken, such as calling other officers, said Euton. Proper protocol must be followed when responding to a call and Meadows did not follow the protocol, said the former acting chief.
Meadows said Thursday he had no comment about the charges.
‘too close’
Euton said he believes he may have been ousted from his position because "some people in town are afraid I'm getting too close to solving other crimes."
He plans to "most certainly" appeal council's decision. He should be able to appeal to council, but if not, he will appeal the decision through common pleas court, he said.
An investigation
At the last meeting, the Hutchinson family came before council to complain about its treatment during a police investigation. Council members promised to investigate the police department's actions.
Euton said council has yet to ask him for any information regarding the case.
Currently, Meadows chooses not to discuss the Hutchinson/police department investigation.
Used to criticism
Wednesday evening is not the first time Euton has been fired from a position. According to publicized reports, Euton was fired from the Dayton Police Department in May, 2005 because he allegedly allowed a civilian to wear a bullet-proof vest and accompany him on a drug raid.
In similar fashion, Euton was called to a meeting, thinking he was going to get demoted and have a disciplinary hearing before the Dayton mayor. Instead, he was fired. Euton told news sources he believed he was fired because he was investigating allegations that the mayor's wife was involved in illegal drug activity.
While an officer for the Lincoln Heights Police Department in 2000, Euton allegedly failed to follow a direct order and used his canine to track someone not accused of a felony -- a violation of village policy. The day of the hearing, Euton turned in a letter accusing his police supervisor of several violations against him and his dog. Euton said he and the canine would not return to the department until conditions improved. Euton was subsequently fired from the position and the canine program was suspended.
As Euton exits
As Euton exits office, he said he will take Lasso, the drug and tracking canine, with him. Euton had donated Lasso's services to the village during a summer council meeting. Euton also said a lot of items in the office still belong to him, but did not say if he was or was not taking the items.
Also exiting office was auxiliary officer Jim Marino. Marino turned in his badge directly after the meeting was over, even though Euton said he asked officers not to resign.
Euton allegedly told officers "the village needs protection."
Euton said, "I want to thank Aberdeen residents and businesses in favor of change; in promoting a fair and impartial police department -- that has been my goal all along."
Aberdeen police chief removed, mayor facing charges
By CARRIE CARLSON Staff Writer
Thursday, October 12, 2006 11:08 PM EDT Print this story | Email this story
*
ABERDEEN, Ohio -- In a single evening in Aberdeen, the village's acting police chief was ousted from office and the mayor was served with criminal charges.
After a special council meeting on Wednesday night, marked by an extremely lengthy executive session, village council members voted to remove acting Police Chief Joseph Euton from office.
After the executive session, Mayor Robert Meadows read a letter to council and the public, recommending Euton be removed.
The letter
In a letter addressed to council, Meadows said Euton's appointment as "acting chief of police" was intended to be only a temporary appointment. Since Euton has held the position, "the village of Aberdeen has been in a state of constant turmoil concerning the police department," Meadows said in the letter.
The mayor said Euton's actions have caused budgetary issues, scheduling problems, citizen complaints and disruptive council meetings. The mayor called the acting chief "argumentative."
Further into the letter, Meadows cites specific instances of uncooperative behavior. In April, Meadows said Euton hired officer Mick Blankenship against the mayor's will.
"Euton should not have scheduled Mr. Blankenship to work as an Aberdeen police officer until he had been properly appointed," said Meadows.
Euton said he sent Meadows a request to hire Blankenship. Euton said the request allowed Meadows 11 days to make a decision about the officer's employment. After the time was up, Euton said he heard no response from the mayor. Euton then made the decision to schedule Blankenship for work. Blankenship was aware he might not get paid, said the former acting chief.
Euton assured council in July that he had secured funds to purchase a temporary holding cell, said the mayor's letter. Council has since received a bill for the cell, but no funds have been presented, said Meadows.
Euton said Thursday money is on its way for the cell. He said the department received a donation from Woodmen of the World and forwarded the funds to the Brown County Foundation. Three weeks ago, Euton said he requested funds from the foundation be sent to pay for the cell, but the money has not yet appeared. Funds are also available from the department's Riverfest car and bike show, he said.
In the letter's conclusion, Meadows cited the Ohio Revised Code by stating, "all appointments of police officers shall be for a probationary period of six month's continuous service and none shall be finally made until the appointee has satisfactorily served his probationary period."
Even though Euton has served more than six months, Meadows said he has "never transmitted to council a record of his service nor have I ever made a recommendation thereon."
Meadows chose to make his recommendation known Wednesday night with his request to remove Euton.
Meadows said he waited longer than the six month period to "see if things worked out."
The mayor said he has taken no steps without village attorney, Jay Cutrell's, or the council's advice.
"I hope Aberdeen feels we've done the right thing," he said.
The meeting
Euton said he was not made aware of the true purpose of Wednesday's meeting. He believed he was meeting with council to discuss disciplinary action to be taken against other officers. Euton believes he was entitled to know the true nature of the meeting and have legal representation for a hearing by council.
Meadows said Euton was notified of the special council meeting, concerning "police issues."
Criminal charges
After the meeting was over, Aberdeen Police Sgt. Keith Rhinehardt, the man temporarily chosen by Euton as leader of the department, served Meadows with criminal charges for allegedly obstructing official business and trespassing for an event which occurred on Tuesday.
According to Euton, Meadows attempted to take law into his own hands by responding to a domestic relations call. Meadows allegedly responded to the call in his S-10 pick-up truck, opened the door of the home where the call originated, stuck his head in, asked if everything was all right and then shut the door, police said.
The former acting chief said Meadows took the call after he could not reach Euton by phone. No other officer was on duty at the time, said Euton who said he was traveling from Cincinnati and had lost his cell phone connection.
Other action could have been taken, such as calling other officers, said Euton. Proper protocol must be followed when responding to a call and Meadows did not follow the protocol, said the former acting chief.
Meadows said Thursday he had no comment about the charges.
‘too close’
Euton said he believes he may have been ousted from his position because "some people in town are afraid I'm getting too close to solving other crimes."
He plans to "most certainly" appeal council's decision. He should be able to appeal to council, but if not, he will appeal the decision through common pleas court, he said.
An investigation
At the last meeting, the Hutchinson family came before council to complain about its treatment during a police investigation. Council members promised to investigate the police department's actions.
Euton said council has yet to ask him for any information regarding the case.
Currently, Meadows chooses not to discuss the Hutchinson/police department investigation.
Used to criticism
Wednesday evening is not the first time Euton has been fired from a position. According to publicized reports, Euton was fired from the Dayton Police Department in May, 2005 because he allegedly allowed a civilian to wear a bullet-proof vest and accompany him on a drug raid.
In similar fashion, Euton was called to a meeting, thinking he was going to get demoted and have a disciplinary hearing before the Dayton mayor. Instead, he was fired. Euton told news sources he believed he was fired because he was investigating allegations that the mayor's wife was involved in illegal drug activity.
While an officer for the Lincoln Heights Police Department in 2000, Euton allegedly failed to follow a direct order and used his canine to track someone not accused of a felony -- a violation of village policy. The day of the hearing, Euton turned in a letter accusing his police supervisor of several violations against him and his dog. Euton said he and the canine would not return to the department until conditions improved. Euton was subsequently fired from the position and the canine program was suspended.
As Euton exits
As Euton exits office, he said he will take Lasso, the drug and tracking canine, with him. Euton had donated Lasso's services to the village during a summer council meeting. Euton also said a lot of items in the office still belong to him, but did not say if he was or was not taking the items.
Also exiting office was auxiliary officer Jim Marino. Marino turned in his badge directly after the meeting was over, even though Euton said he asked officers not to resign.
Euton allegedly told officers "the village needs protection."
Euton said, "I want to thank Aberdeen residents and businesses in favor of change; in promoting a fair and impartial police department -- that has been my goal all along."