Ohio Police Chief upset over allegations concerning background investigation

By Dave Greber
Dayton Daily News

Westchester Township Police Chief John Bruce is demanding trustees here apologize for comments they made in response to an internal investigation that suggested he instructed his nephew to lie on an application.

A letter was sent Tuesday from Bruce's attorney, Mark Mezibov, to township attorney Donald Crain, that said "...Trustees have publicly impugned Col. Bruce and stigmatized his professional reputation by imputing to him acts of dishonesty and unprofessional conduct."

In the letter, Mezibov states: "Col. Bruce demands that the trustees issue a prompt public apology and correction at the next meeting of the Board of Trustees."

But at least one trustee has said a public apology isn't warranted.

"I don't believe the board has taken any action for which they should apologize to anybody," said Trustee Catherine Stoker.

As of this afternoon, trustees George Lang and Lee Wong, declined to comment.

Mezibov said his client's professional career could be negatively impacted by comments trustees made in response to the internal investigation that appeared in the Oct. 25 edition of the Journal-News.

Said Wong Oct. 25: "I have lost total confidence and trust in him as a police chief. He's not allowed to make any major command decisions. This is short of him being relieved of his command."

The attorney said Bruce should at least have an opportunity to clear his name in a public hearing if an apology is denied.

The investigation, launched late last month, concluded Donald Gatliff, 27, of West Chester Twp., was not forthcoming to investigators about his background, and that Bruce advised him to do so.

Gatliff applied with the township in March after hearing about an open position in the police department. But a subsequent background check showed he provided false or misleading information on his application, during initial interviews and again during the internal investigation.

The internal investigation showed Bruce advised Gatliff to omit his history of drug use and not to disclose on the application that he was related to Bruce and Bruce's wife, Denise, who is the director of the township's communications and information technology department.

The township's nepotism policy prohibits department heads from hiring immediate family members or people who live under the same roof, neither of which applied to Gatliff's hiring.

Gatliff has never been convicted on a drug charge, although he admitted to investigators he has used various illegal drugs as recently as 2002, according to the background investigation, but he was convicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and operating a vehicle without a license as a juvenile.

Gatliff was nearing the end of completing his ninth week of the 18-week training program at the Ohio State Highway Academy.

Bruce also said he was trying to protect Gatliff's information from becoming public.

Bruce, chief since 2000, is not likely to face disciplinary action. Township records show Bruce has been responsible for hiring 58 people during his tenure. He said that none of his previous hires — or attempts to hire — led to an internal investigation.

Posted by Pebi Services President Tyra Hearns