Warren officer’s promotion delayed pending talk of off-duty matter

By Ed Runyan

The lieutenant was suspended over racially charged remarks.

WARREN — The Warren Civil Service Commission has certified that Lt. Joseph Marhulik is the next person in line to become captain in the city police department.

But Marhulik’s promotion will remain on hold while Marhulik, the city administration and members of two community groups talk about the events that led up to his suspension for making racially charged remarks to several people last August, said Doug Franklin, Warren safety-service director.

Marhulik recently was suspended for two weeks without pay after a series of off-duty incidents on a Sunday night in which he called two men on bicycles a derogatory name for a black person and caused a disturbance at two city low- income housing projects.

Marhulik used two weeks of vacation time for his suspension, said Gary Cicero, Warren human-relations director.

Marhulik makes $31.42 per hour, or $65,354 per year. If he’s promoted to captain, he would make $36.12 per hour, or $75,140 per year.

Franklin said he and Marhulik met with the Trumbull County Ministerial Alliance, an organization of black ministers, and Marhulik made it clear he “wants to repair the damage he has caused” through his actions Aug. 16, Franklin said.

A second meeting between Marhulik and some additional black leaders also is planned, Franklin said.

“Lieutenant Marhulik has expressed remorse and a strong willingness to try to explain and apologize to the community,” Franklin said.

Marhulik’s promotion will be delayed until the city administration and the community are comfortable he can continue to serve in a leadership position within the department, Franklin said.

In an internal-affairs investigation, Marhulik said he had “a few beers” that night and mixed them with prescription medication before driving his city-issued, unmarked car through the southwest and northwest parts of the city.

A security guard at the Stonegate Apartments near the former St. Joseph Riverside Hospital called police after Marhulik showed up there at about 1:30 a.m., appearing to be drunk while armed with his police firearm and talking to residents.

He likewise went to the Hampshire House apartments near Fifth Street Southwest and asked residents if he could buy drugs off them, the investigation showed.

Marhulik told Sgt. Jeff Cole, the department’s internal-affairs officer, he was being sarcastic when he asked that question, adding that the residents knew he was a police officer.

Marhulik also admitted that he had used a derogatory term for a black person that night while talking to a man riding a bicycle not far from the Hampshire House apartments. He admitted he made other derogatory remarks to the man.

Another man on a bicycle on Highland Avenue Southwest wrote out a similar complaint against Marhulik from that night.

Meanwhile, Cicero said the city and the Fraternal Order of Police have agreed not to fill a sergeant position that will come open as a result of Tim Bowers’ being promoted to police chief Sept. 30. Marhulik is in line to take Bowers’ position as captain, and Sgt. Martin Gargas is in line to fill Marhulik’s position as lieutenant. Patrolman Joe Kistler has the highest civil-service score for the next sergeant’s position.

runyan@vindy.com