LORDSTOWN — Village council has accepted the retirement resignation of police officer Richard Watson following an investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cortland police department over his recent actions.

Village officials have said the incident of investigating Watson stemmed from a falsified corruption claim where Watson admitted to BCI that a conversation he had with another Lordstown police officer was recorded under false pretenses to coerce an admission of wrongdoing from one of his superiors.

Officials said there were also issues of threatening remarks made by Watson against the chief and a police captain.

“When something like this takes place, we conduct an internal investigation,” police Chief Brent Milhoan said.

“We had an outside agency do an internal investigation into this matter,” he said.

A Cortland police department detective conducted the investigation, and based on what was determined, Milhoan recommended to Mayor Jackie Woodward that Watson be terminated from his police position, he said at the Dec. 1 meeting.

He said Watson chose to retire before the termination on Dec. 15. His letter of retirement was effective Dec. 8.

Danielle Watson, former wife of Richard Watson, had addressed village council earlier this year, playing a taped recording making allegations public of bribery within the department over alleged policy to not serve warrants at the Ultium Cells plant so officers would receive higher wages to work security at the plant, and also only serve warrants for serious felonies and violent crimes.

The BCI investigation found no evidence or findings of criminal wrongdoing that officers received higher wages for security at Utium Cells and that the warrants were only for serious offenses, officials said.

Milhoan had said Watson was to be terminated based on “dishonesty, threatening behavior and gross misconduct” as an officer in the department.

Milhoan placed Watson on paid leave in October.

Council has held executive sessions on the matter in recent months before discussions were held at the Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 meetings.

Watson could not be reached for comment and has not attended any council meetings.

OPWC FUNDS

The village is planning to seek Ohio Public Works Commission funding for planned road improvement projects in 2026.

Village Engineer Chris Kogelnik told council this week that OPWC state capital improvement and local transportation improvement funding program is being sought for the Lyntz Road resurfacing project.

He said the Lyntz Road project will proceed next year, with applications being submitted for two other projects — shoulder work on the sides along state Route 45 in front of Ultium Cells, and work and improvements along Henn Parkway Road and resurfacing of Salt Springs Road.

Also, council heard from Milhoan that the department is utilizing Tommy’s Car Wash for the washing of police vehicles.

The agreement will be for $200 per month for washing 11 police vehicles.

Milhoan said for many years the department took the vehicles to Coates Car Care in Austintown and the Coates family would not charge the department for the washings.

“Over the years, they washed many police cars from Trumbull and Mahoning counties for no cost,” he said.

Milhoan said when Coates Car Care was sold to Magic Wash, the company also tried to wash at no cost, but officials told him they can no longer continue to do that.

THANKED LEAVING MEMBERS

Council thanked members Howard Sheely and Ernest Bowen for their service.

Sheely and Bowen had sought reelection in the November general election but did not win.

Sheely has served as chairman of the public safety, fire and emergency medical services and Bowen of public utilities.

During the meeting, new council members Mark McGrail and Ron Radtka, and returning members Robert Bond and Jamie Moseley, were sworn in by Newton Falls Court Judge Phillip Vigorito.

Also sworn in were Chris Peterson and Michael Sullivan for the board of public affairs.

Council also approved amending the village zoning maps to reclassify 14.8146 acres of property subdivided and owned by Clean Energy Future LLC from a mixed zone of residential and industrial to solely residential.

Solicitor Matt Ries said there is no change in boundary lines.

In other business, council:

* Approved paying $5,000 to Ohio Edison Co. to release a judgment lien for property at 8933 Route 45

* Approved the purchase of fire hoses and related equipment from All American Fire Equipment.

* Hired Dora Sandy as a firefighter / paramedic and Anthony Moore as a firefighter / emergency medical technician.

* Accepted the resignation of Mason Marinkovich, a part-time dispatcher, effective Dec. 9.

* Set the end-of-the-year meeting for 6 p.m. Dec. 30.