Lordstown Police Chief Brent Milhoan is calling for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to look into "accusatory comments" made about his department during a council meeting last month.

The comments involve Lordstown Police officers picking up security shifts at Ultium Cells and practicing unethical behavior, which Chief Milhoan says is not true.

"There is an agreement upon Ultium Cells and this person in our police department who is in this room right now that our officers are not allowed to serve minor misdemeanor warrants at Ultium Cells," a Lordstown resident stated during the council meeting on March 17. "That is a huge problem. Our officers all took an oath."

These comments accuse the police department of improperly handling criminal activity happening within Ultium Cells when they work security shifts.

"To me, that is a bribe," she added. "That is bribery and that is as corrupt as can possibly be. You can't say, 'here's $70 an hour, turn a blind eye to these minor misdemeanors.' That is no different than if an officer pulled somebody over for speeding, running a red light, or running a stop sign, and that violator handed that officer $70 and said 'turn a blind eye.' That officer would not be a police officer ever again."

The woman told the council on March 17 that she had recorded evidence of the unethical behavior.

The corruption accusations led Chief Milhoan to ask the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for help. He wrote a formal letter requesting BCI's assistance on April 2. Mayor Jackie Woodward confirmed with 21 News on Monday village council supports the investigation.

It is unclear if Lordstown Police officers will be allowed to continue to pick up shifts at Ultium Cells at this point.

Chief Milhoan said he can't discuss the investigation even though it has yet to be picked up by BCI. Mayor Woodward told 21 News there is no set timeline of when BCI could decide to investigate the accusations.