Girard’s chief of police to answer to conduct charges

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

GIRARD — Police Chief Frank Bigowsky says the charges lodged against him by city officials are without merit, but he’s expected to offer an official explanation to all seven charges today.

Bigowsky, via a weekend e-mail, offered a short response to the charges levied against him after a two-week investigation by city administration.

“I believe the complaint I filed against this administration was the catalyst for conducting an internal investigation and filing charges against me. Not one charge levied against me has any merit and I look forward to truthfully addressing these allegations in front of a fair and impartial panel. I only regret that the monetary costs incurred during this entire process will continue to fall upon the taxpayers in the city of Girard,” said Bigowsky.

The chief, who is on paid administrative leave, would not comment further. He is due at city hall by 10 a.m. today to offer an official answer to the charges. He had filed a complaint with the city’s Civil Service Commission against Mayor James Melfi, after a meeting last month in the mayor’s office. The chief’s complaint said Melfi was threatening, demeaning and irate.

Then, late last week, city officials released a complaint about Bigowsky. It contains a list of charges: teaching private classes while on city time, engaging in conduct that undermines the civil service hiring process, disregarding a valid direct order, challenging a validly issued directive, making false accusations against the mayor, failure to properly monitor overtime expenditures in the police department, and making derogatory statements concerning the appointing authority.

Members of city council also seemed to have some questions about Bigowsky’s situation. Councilman Joe Shelby called for an executive session during a Monday night meeting to “get some straight answers” about some recent decisions by city administration about personnel decisions.

Councilman Brian Kren asked Safety Service Director Jerry Lambert who is running the police department and at what rate of pay. Lambert said Capt. John Villecco is serving as chief, but at a captain’s rate of pay.

Kren said the situation is a good example of why department heads should make more money than those they supervise — something that he says is not the case in the city police and fire departments.

Council had further discussion about the police department with Councilman Frank Migliozzi, saying the department has used too much overtime so far this year and will likely use all available funds for overtime before the year’s end.

“I don’t see how we are going to allocate more money to this line item without affecting somewhere else in the general fund,” said Migliozzi.

Overtime use is one of the charges against Bigowsky in the complaint.

jgoodwin@vindy.com