Vienna trustees to meet with police officer

Will discuss his future with police department during March hearing

VIENNA -- Township trustees have scheduled a hearing March 4 with Michael Sheehy concerning his future with the police department.

It's expected the meeting will be held in executive session unless Sheehy requests the hearing be conducted publicly, trustees said.

On Monday, residents asked trustees why it took nearly two months since initial allegations were brought against Sheehy for any action to be taken by the township.

Police Chief Bob Ludt received an allegation of misconduct against Sheehy, a school resource officer, on Dec. 16 from Mathews Superintendent Russell McQuaide. Sheehy, a sergeant with the police department, was then placed on leave, using accumulated vacation time, pending a Bureau of Criminal Investigation inquiry.

Meanwhile, the Trumbull County grand jury indicted Sheehy Feb. 1 on several felony and misdemeanor charges, stemming from a Jan. 28 arrest in which he was accused of theft in office, theft and possession of criminal tools.

"My frustration is obviously that the allegation was originally made on December 16th of last year and through whatever means, whether BCI is taking their time or whether our folks on our end are taking their time, the investigation is spanning well into a second month here and during that time he was allowed to take paid leave and was still given access to the police department," said Matthew Zoccole, a resident of Vienna.

Residents questioned police department leadership and why something wasn't done sooner against Sheehy.

Zoccole was especially vocal asking why Sheehy wasn't placed on leave without pay.

"We let him have access to the department and he goes in there a month later and loots the community," said Zoccole. "How come he wasn't suspended without pay and his keys weren't taken?"

Ludt's response was, "I have a procedure that I follow and I did."

Resident Mary Swift asked when Ludt first heard of issues surrounding Sheehy.

"Did anyone, perhaps a citizen, over the last eight months contact your department to say that maybe there was an issue with one of your officers? Do you meet with the officers or offer assistance?" Swift asked. "Nothing was brought to your attention from anyone below you about conduct or an issue with that officer (Sheehy) that needed addressed?"

"If someone called me, I would've taken care of it, but obviously that didn't happen," the chief responded.

Trustees issued a statement that read, "Vienna Township will have no further comment on the allegations made by the Mathews Local School District."

The trustees did, at the recommendation of Ludt, hire Theresa Hunter-Hartman to take over the DARE program at Mathews. She used to work for Vienna police and is certified to teach DARE. The SRO position at the schools will continue to rotate among township officers.

"It's upon the leadership of our police department to know that stuff like this is happening," Zoccole said. "This would not have happened if they would've taken action when the initial investigation started on Dec. 16."