Warren officer returns to work, faces charges

By Ed Runyan

No criminal charge will be filed against the lieutenant.

WARREN — A lieutenant in line to become a captain of the Warren Police Department is back on the job, due to be charged administratively for reportedly calling two men on bicycles a derogatory name for a black person.

Lt. Joseph Marhulik returned to work Wednesday after taking about a month off on sick leave, said Tim Bowers, Warren police chief.

Marhulik spent about a week on paid administrative leave at the beginning of September, shortly after two men accused him of calling them each a derogatory name for a black person and making other derogatory remarks.

One of the men said Marhulik stopped his car alongside him on Highland Avenue near Third Street Southwest about 11:30 p.m. Aug. 16 and made the remarks.

He said Marhulik appeared to be intoxicated and had another man in the car with him. The second complaint was almost identical to the first.

Marhulik was apparently off duty but driving his police department-issued, unmarked blue Impala. The incidents reportedly happened on a Sunday night, when Marhulik was not scheduled to work.

Bowers said he has received the report of Sgt. Jeff Cole, internal- affairs officer for the department, and Bowers has concluded that Marhulik will be administratively charged over the incident, but he has not decided yet on exact charges.

Bowers said he gave Cole’s report to Traci Timko Rose, an assistant Warren law director, and she has advised him that there was no criminal conduct in Marhulik’s actions, so no criminal charges will be forthcoming.

Marhulik is at the top of the civil service list for the next captain’s position that becomes available. That position opened up at the end of September, when Bowers was sworn in as chief.

Marhulik came back to work Wednesday because that’s when his doctor cleared him to return to work, Bowers said. Marhulik had to use his accumulated sick time for his weeks on sick leave, Bowers said.

Marhulik works directly under Bowers and has done so for several years in assisting Bowers with the operation of the support division, which includes dispatching, office staff and grant writing.

Marhulik also oversees the department’s concentration on the city’s public-housing units.

Bowers will have a predisciplinary hearing with Marhulik on Oct. 27, at which time Marhulik will have the chance to offer a defense. Any punishment will be issued after that.

runyan@vindy.com