Update: Union allegations led to suspension, investigation of Trumbull Co. Sheriff sergeant

A 21 News records request sheds more light on why a Trumbull County Sheriff's sergeant was placed on leave, but not who the sergeant is.

The documents, with the sergeant's name redacted, show that on April 8, Chief Deputy Dale McDorman received a complaint from the Deputies Union concerning several issues regarding the unnamed sergeant. Captain David Ruggiero was assigned to conduct an internal investigation into the alleged concerns.

All names in the letter from Chief McDorman to the suspended officer and the email from the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association union, with the subject line "Union complaint," have been redacted from the documents, except in bullet point 16, which lists the name Galida. A search of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) records with the Ohio Attorney General site shows only one officer with that last name with the department — Bryan Galida, as a full-time officer with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office since February 16, 2016. However, it is unclear what his connection is to this investigation.

Numerous previous media reports have listed Galida as a sergeant with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office; however, 21 News has not confirmed what his role is in this investigation.

An email from the Union includes allegations of a hostile work environment after multiple officers complained about concerns involving the unnamed sergeant. One deputy called his actions "gross" and alleged the behavior is "criminal." 

The 8-page email sent regarding the sergeant's concerns stated that union personnel had gone "up the chain of command" before filing an official grievance with the state to address the workplace concerns.

The letter said the union representative spoke to the sergeant three times and believed the concerns were resolved. The letter added that the sergeant "in turn degraded or questioned my ability in an attempt to discredit myself among other deputies."

The letter claimed the sergeant's behavior lasted "over years" before the union representative worked for the Sheriff's Office and that the sergeant "harasses, degrades, and intimidates them on scene in front of others or civilians."

The letter also said that the sergeant "often verbally abuses and discredits Deputies, supervisors, and old/new administration."

19 bullet points on the submitted letter, state alleged issues or concerns of actions or statements allegedly made by the sergeant, including:

• 1. Complaints were received about a cartoon picture posted at the Newton Falls substation with a crude hand-written comment.
• 2. Claims the sergeant has allowed one deputy to sleep in and miss "a significant amount of time at work." The letter claims this type of incident happened at least 30 times, adding that "this Deputy was not in a condition to come to work but [name redacted] allowed him too [sic]."
• 3. Claimed the sergeant created a toxic work environment by "degrading and challenging the new administration's competency, including the sergeant allegedly claiming the "current administration ran on a platform of saving money and now costs over 750k."
• 4. Threatened numerous deputies with taking overtime or filing time away, including taking away side jobs, preventing deputies from making extra money, but allegedly stated "he would write more tickets to increase his court time so that he would make more money."
• 5. Deputies allege that the sergeant "has called about Deputies while they are working so they can follow him home so he wouldn't get pulled over for drinking and driving." The letter implied it was more of an order when they have to "do it at 2 am on duty," adding that this has happened more than once.
• 6. Allegations of filing police reports with "numerous fallacies."
• 7. Allegations that the sergeant would say he "knows the Sheriff personally and will call him to make changes, get supervisors demoted, and Deputies removed from the road," claiming these to be threats made frequently.
• 8. The letter stated the sergeant used a department cruiser for personal needs when it snowed.
• 9. Allegations of getting a senior deputy placed in Newton Falls or removed from road duties.
• 10. Claims that deputies are "policing for profit."
• 11. Newton Falls [name redacted] and officers complaining about the sergeant making "questionable and exaggerated" arrests, which he would show up in court for.
• 12. Allegations that the sergeant said if you don't  "do your job," he will remove you, and allegedly said deputies are useless and need to leave.
• 13. Officers claim gross misconduct and that the sergeant's alleged role was ordering an arrest "based on no evidence or probable cause."
• 14. The sergeant "has degraded the K9 program openly."
• 15. Claims of HIPAA violations by allegedly asking a deputy "numerous health questions demanding answers."
• 16. This entry has an unredacted name that states, "Galida has told numerous deputies that he makes [name redacted] look up other deputies' time off and overtime." 
• 17. Alleges the sergeant passed out Narcan to the shift and said, "This is for [name redacted] in case she overdoses," noting that he degrades all deputies when not present.
• 18. Has reached out to union representatives with OPBA and used to intimidate deputies, and states it was verified with the union rep.
• 19. The sergeant allegedly "calls or stays over" to other shifts to fix their reports, questions deputies about their supervisors or "brags" about removing [name redacted], creating a position for himself. Also, ID and TAG detectives are alleged to degrade, claiming "incompetent and unable to do the job."

The Union email asks for the administration to investigate and handle the concerns properly. 

21 News pushed back after our request to fulfill our initial public records request was declined, which asked to name the public employee, citing both a collective bargaining agreement and a portion of the Ohio Revised Code that exempts some law enforcement records from public disclosure. 

On April 17, 21 News reiterated the request for this information pertaining to the sergeant, who is a public employee paid with taxpayer funds, adding that if the exemption is related to b., c., or d., any information disclosing confidential witnesses or tactics could be redacted.

DeVengencie-Bush replied that they are aware of the law, but that the department is "also required to fully assess to what extent that the release of the record would create a high probability of disclosure of any of the below cited in the ORC. Nonetheless as stated below, we have requested the more specific information be provided by the Sheriffs Office whom I’m sure will be more than happy to fulfill what is required per law within a reasonable amount of time."

21 News received the redacted request on Thursday afternoon.