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Chester Township 2014 Police Renewal Levy...,
should not be on the ballot.
At a recent town hall meeting, it was brought to our attention that the Chester Township Police Department, with no regard for taxpayers, cashed out on tens of thousands of dollars in overtime and vacation payouts.
Chief Purchase’s response to the outrage over his money grab is that there will be no more vacation “cash outs”, overtime will be offered to the lowest paid officer first, not the highest paid (or family), and now, he and Det. Pomean will start responding to calls?
A good steward of the taxpayers' dollar would have implemented these actions not because of admonishment, but because it would have been the right thing to do.
Disappointingly, there is obvious favoritism on the Chester Twp. Police department. In addition to Sgt. John Barco’s $4, 828.32 vacation payout, he received 243 hours of overtime pay, the highest on the staff. This is more than favoritism; this is nepotism, as he is Chief Purchase’s brother-in-law.
The salaries for 2013 are the highest in Geauga County for any police department and were as follows:
Chief Mark Purchase, $98, 244.72, Sgt. John Barco, $92,909.93, Officer Tim Day, $75, 345.38, Officer Allen Dodge, $72,417.96, Officer Rich Foster, $75,500.81, Sgt. Todd Pocek, $81,703.80, Det. Robert Pomean, 79,624.69.
The Sheriff of the entire county is paid about $69,000.
The 2014 levy that is up for renewal should not be placed on the ballot and permitted to expire. The department is obviously ridiculously overfunded with a surplus/carryover of close to two million dollars and growing.
We fought really hard to make sure that Mark Purchase was appointed as our Chief and the residents of this Township have supported every single police levy without reservation. In return for the support, Chief Purchase and his staff have cashed out on our good will.
Judy K. Zamlen-Spotts
Chesterland, Ohio
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When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic..... Benjamin Franklin
Judy, as you well know, there is an epidemic of abuse and thievery of our tax money like never before by the parasites living off it. They are constantly trying to come up with clever schemes to get more money for themselves at the expense of hard working people.
I have always had respect for police who lived up to their oath and took the job to protect, serve, and treat people fairly. It is the mark of a true man to do this even in the wake of criticism. It is the mark of a PIG, a COWARD, and a BULLY to abuse this position of authority. Is this sinking in Mark and Dan?
The Chester Twp. police have it very easy..... they should try working in downtown Cleveland. All I see are radar traps all over Chesterland. This is not for safety, it is another form of taxation, another way to bring in more revenue for police salaries. This has NOTHING to do with good police work, I consider it abusive. It seems this is of more importance than the heroin problem.
The Chesterland Police, including Chief Purchase, should appreciate their jobs and thank GOD they are not in Cleveland.
Police should learn how to communicate better with the public and especially people they have conflict with. Problems can be resolved in a much better way like this. It seems this art has been lost and has been replaced with the more prevalent conduct of verbal abuse, intimidation, tickets galore, wielding power drunk authority, etc.
You are right Judy.... it is a little too late for Chief Mark Purchase trying to correct this after the fact, after getting caught in the public spotlight.... he should never have let this happen in the first place. This IS a degree of corruption in that department.
 
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