'It will destroy this department': North Ridgeville urged to act on complaints against police chief

NORTH RIDGEVILLE — In the first City Council meeting since North Ridgeville announced that it would undertake a third-party review of the city's Police Department and Chief Mike Freeman's conduct, former officer Jim Larkin delivered a dire warning. "I'm telling you now, if this is not rectified you will not be able to cover the amount of people that will leave," Larkin said. "It will destroy this department." Larkin has been vocal about issues within the department since he resigned, and he spoke to Council on Monday about what he experienced during his more than a decade of working as an officer in North Ridgeville. "Working under the leadership here is exhausting, and I have no more left," Larkin said. "I grew up in this community. I love this community and I didn't want to leave it. But my hand was forced." Freeman was not at the meeting Monday and did not respond to a request for comment. A survey released recently from the North Ridgeville Police Association and comments from Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association General Counsel Brian Holb depicted a department ruled by poor communication, arbitrary punishment and verbal abuse from Freeman. Larkin echoed those concerns. He told a story which he discussed at length during a Facebook Live post on Thursday. He accused Freeman of screaming, swearing and hurling threats at him for arriving to work seven minutes late. "This has been going on for so long," Larkin said. "I turned over a letter to (now former) Safety Service Director Jeff Armbruster detailing an incident I had with (Freeman) in 2016." Larkin later said he believed Mayor Kevin Corcoran hadn't learned of that incident until recently. He reiterated what Holb told The Chronicle-Telegram last week: that the OPBA had been informing Corcoran of the issues with Freeman since he took office. He said the whole city administration was aware of the complaints against Freeman for years. "'It's just Mike being Mike,' that's what they would tell us," Larkin said. "Nobody cared about how he was treating these guys." Corcoran said the officers of the department had his full support, and emphasized the importance of allowing the third-party review to run its course. That review is being carried out by the Cleveland law firm Stefanik, Iosue and Associates. "I understand everyone's concerns expressed here tonight," Corcoran said. "We are currently conducting a review of the Police Department, and this process started long before most people understand. It is unfortunate that some information is being shared that is misinformation or just not true. We will conduct the review and allow for the process to proceed in a fair manner. Once it is complete, we will take the next steps accordingly." Some community members placed the blame for the issues within the department more squarely on Corcoran, including resident Shelly Kearsey. "The mayor, City Council and the people gathered here today should be outraged that we have lost a great many police officers, dispatchers and I'm sure there are more city employees who have left because of the lack of response from (Corcoran)," Kearsey said. "You have chosen to spend a great deal of money on a law firm to investigate what you already know to be true. You have been made aware of these issues on many occasions, and yet here we are." Paul Wolanski, who is the Democratic challenger to the Republican Corcoran in the November mayoral race, said the leadership issues ultimately led back to Corcoran. "This is what happens when important issues are overlooked, minimized and downright neglected," Wolanski said. "I applaud union President John Zingale and others for their bravery to come forward and speak out. It takes an extreme amount of courage. It appears we have a leadership and trust problem in North Ridgeville." Zingale signed a letter which was sent along with the police association's survey to Corcoran and all members of Council and a copy of which was provided to The Chronicle by a source. He was in attendance at the Council meeting, and provided a comment following it via text message. "I want to let the community know that we appreciate all of their support," Zingale said. "We hear their voices, see their talk online, and appreciate all the food they've donated. We will continue to work hard to make this city great alongside them and restore our reputation as a premiere police department." Wolanski said the independent review was important, but that Corcoran should have initiated it "years ago" when he first learned of the accusations of how Freeman allegedly treated officers. "Thank you all for taking the time to be here with us and for sharing your concerns with Council, many of which I'm sure some of the members of Council share as well," said Council President Jason Jacobs, R-at-large. "We are encouraged that the administration has hired an outside firm to review the police department, and we will look for those results." Larkin spoke to Council following his first shift as a member of the North Olmsted Police Department. He drew a sharp contrast between his first day with that department and his years working in North Ridgeville. "The atmosphere there was unbelievable," he said. "Guys are happy. Nobody is walking around worried about the chief coming in and yelling at them to get on the road. (North Olmsted Chief Bob Wagner) trusts his guys, he lets his guys work. It's just a different atmosphere, and guys will flock to that." Larkin said though he was gone, he wanted to see the officers in North Ridgeville as happy at work as his new colleagues. He said if that can't be accomplished, then the North Ridgeville Police Department is in danger. "The mayor has bought himself six months right now with this investigation," Larkin said. "And if nothing is done, I'm telling you right now, you won't have a police department here." Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.