LORDSTOWN — Police Chief Brent Milhoan informed village council and the public Monday that he has reached out to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) regarding a complaint from a resident last month over the questionable behavior of some officers.

Milhoan said at the council meeting that he wrote a letter last week and sent it to BCI, which is a division of the Ohio attorney general’s office. He said during the public comment portion of the March 17 council meeting, a village resident accused the police department of “corruption” and compared the department “to the mob.”

Milhoan said he is requesting assistance from BCI to investigate the allegations made against the police department and he is waiting for the agency’s response.

Last month, resident Danielle Watson addressed council and other officials, stating she is aware that some police officers who provide security at Ultium Cells have not been serving minor misdemeanor warrants to employees who work there.

She said the officers are paid $70 per hour to work security at Ultium.

“That is a huge problem. They are turning a blind eye to minor misdemeanors. That is no different than an officer stopping someone for speeding, or running a red light or stop sign and that speeder or violator handed that officer $70 to turn a blind eye,” Watson said at the March 17 meeting.

Also at that meeting, Watson played a recording of two male voices discussing an officer picking up someone who had a misdemeanor warrant for a traffic offense and was told not to serve them but only serve those with felony warrants or domestic violence warrants.

Watson asked council at the time what they plan to do about this, noting the officer should be placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Village officials met in executive session Monday after the meeting to discuss the complaint against members of the police department and possible disciplinary action regarding an employee.

Mayor Jackie Woodward said no action was taken by council following the executive session, and she and council would not comment on the matter since there is a pending investigation.

Milhoan acknowledged that some officers do work security at Ultium Cells. Officials said previously that officers are allowed to work side jobs while off duty from the village police department.

In other business, council gave final reading for accepting a right-of-way and permanent easement for a water booster station from Spirongo Lordstown LLC as recommended by the Board of Public Affairs. The property is located off Tod Avenue.

Council also approved an application from Krisher Farms LLC, 4510 Highland Ave. SW, and Curtis and Dianna Bahener for property at 151 Hewitt Gifford Road SW for placement of farmland in an agricultural district. Both owners said the land will produce an annual income of $2,500 or more.