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Police union to appeal suspension over book
By Phil Trexler
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Oct 16, 2008
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic has upheld a police detective's suspension for penning his account of the Jeff Zack murder case.
In a one-sentence letter dated Sept. 22 but not released until Wednesday, Plusquellic denied an appeal of Detective Vince Felber's 90-day unpaid suspension.
Felber said Wednesday that he will appeal the suspension to an arbitrator. The process is expected to take at least eight months.
In the meantime, the 16-year veteran will remain out of the detective bureau and handle phone calls to the department's radio room.
''Obviously, we're going to appeal,'' said police union President Paul Hlynsky. ''This was expected. The mayor already had his mind made up when we went there for the hearing last month.
''The hearing turned into a big shouting match. But I'm con
fident we'll win in arbitration.''
A four-month internal investigation alleged that Felber's literary work broke several departmental rules, including ridiculing or criticizing an order or supervisor, divulging confidential information and participating in conduct that brings the department into disrepute.
It further claimed that the FBI cyber crimes unit has refused to work with Felber in the future because of the book.
Police Chief Michael Matulavich recommended Felber be suspended for 90 days and be permanently removed from the detective bureau for his writing of the book Perfect Beauty, which focused on the Zack murder in 2001 and the arrests of John Zaffino and socialite Cynthia George.
Felber was a lead detective on the case.
Wednesday, he pledged to fight his suspension ''as far as I can fight it.''
''For me, it just has to do with the public's right to know what's happening in their police department and in city hall,'' Felber said. ''That's basically what the city is trying to quash: the public's right to know. All I did was tell the truth.''
Plusquellic declined to comment.
Felber contends the book is a factual account of what occurred during his time on the case and that he did not violate any department rules in his research and writing.
He stands to lose about $18,000 in pay — more money than he earned writing the book, Felber said.
The mayor's decision is apparently being mailed to Felber's home.
Although the letter is dated Sept. 22 — three days after the appeal hearing — Felber said he has not received his notification of the mayor's decision.
Plusquellic's press secretary, Mark Williamson, said the letter was to be sent out sooner, however, it was ''overlooked'' on the desk of James Masturzo, deputy mayor of labor relations.
Felber has 10 days to file his appeal after receiving notification.
''The mayor pulls this stuff all the time,'' Hlynsky said. ''It's terribly unprofessional that he does it that way when he knows we only have 10 days to appeal.''
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic has upheld a police detective's suspension for penning his account of the Jeff Zack murder case.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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medina, oh
Posted 02:29 AM, 10/16/2008
Vince Felber for Mayor!
Posted 07:14 AM, 10/16/2008
Donofrio claims he follows "strict state standards", but he under-appraised property values of his political cronies. Here's one of multiple examples: Plusquellic's house is purchased for $269,000 then the fiscal officer appraised it for $182,000. Is this incompetent, unethical or illegal?
The corruption needs to end.
Posted 07:15 AM, 10/16/2008
Felber has my vote.
Posted 09:04 AM, 10/16/2008
If the legal system can look the other way, and let George off the hook, why not do the same for Felber?
Akron, OH
Posted 09:08 AM, 10/16/2008
Anything to keep Cindy happy, huh Don?
AKRON, OH
Posted 11:01 AM, 10/16/2008
TOO BAD FOR FELBER - THE REALLY HOT SETUP FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS TO PLAY WITHIN THE RULES - THEN THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING BUT GET "OUTRAGED" AND JUMP UP AND DOWN SCREAMING. CONTINUED GOOD LUCK TO YOU DETECTIVE, AFTER THIS IS OVER.
Posted 12:16 PM, 10/16/2008
Don, Please don't look too deep into the many shootings by police or other infractions made by some police officers. But, please do spend an enormous amount of time and probably money in investigating and punishing a man who wrote a book you didn't care for. A man who wrote a book that might have gotten too close to the truth for you.
Posted 03:29 PM, 10/16/2008
I don't know who is worse - the "DON" who has "selective" hearing or Masturzo who "overlooks"
more than he sees.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 04:50 PM, 10/16/2008
Who cares if he wrote a book. It's probably all true! More power to you, Detective. It's the same old thing-money can buy anything and the George's have money.
Hooterville, Oh
Posted 06:43 PM, 10/16/2008
I'm always on the cops side but why not wait until your retired to write your book!.
Posted 09:10 PM, 10/16/2008
F THE MAYOR, F THE GEORGES AND SHAME ON YOU TOO MATULAVICH FOR NOT DEFENDING A GOOD DETECTIVE...90 DAYS! I'M SURE HE HAS STOCK PILES OF MONEY HIDDEN TO PAY HIS MORTGAGE, BILLS AND FOOD. PUBLIC SERVANTS, POLICE, FIRE, MILITARY AND WHOEVER GIVES A S#*T ABOUT OUR COUNTRY ARE TREATED LIKE DISPOSABLE DIAPERS WHILE RICH CREEEEEEPS LIKE THE MAYOR GET AWAY W/ CRIMINAL ACTS ALL THE TIME. MAYBE INSTEAD OF THE FBI SAYING THEY WONT WORK WITH FLEBER THEY SHOULD BE MAKING THEMSELVES USFEUL PULLING THE MAYORS TRASH. I AM GOING TO GO BUY SEVERAL COPIES OF THE BOOK!
Posted 09:10 PM, 10/16/2008
LET'S ALL GO BUY THE BOOK!
AKRON, OH
Posted 09:34 PM, 10/16/2008
JOHN - AGREED
Posted 10:54 PM, 10/16/2008
Christine Todaro- Let the Truth be told Vinnie!!!
Fight with everything you have.
I didnt know telling the truth was a crime in the city of Akron. I guess it depends on who the truths are about.
Shame on you Captain Daugherty you know its all true, I know too.
Posted 09:04 AM, 10/17/2008
Don't let the creeps win. Keep fighting, Felber!
Posted 11:02 AM, 10/17/2008
MAY GOD BLEES YOU MR. FELDER YOU ARE THE TRUTH, WHICH IS BIGGER & BETTER THAN ANY CORRUPT LIAR. YOU WILL PREVAIL AGAINST ALL ODDS. YOU ARE THE ANGEL EXPOSING AKRON'S ANTICHRIST'S. JOB WELL DONE SIR. WHY NOT BECOME A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR AND EXPOSE ALL THE CORRUPT ACTIVITY THAT HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE DOWNTOWN "START FROM THE TOP".
Posted 12:18 PM, 10/17/2008
''For me, it just has to do with the public's right to know what's happening in their police department and in city hall,'' Felber said. ''That's basically what the city is trying to quash: the public's right to know. All I did was tell the truth.'
Bingo. FWIW, Detective Felber, I bought your book. I hope you get future sales in order to offset your unpaid suspension. You work with, and for, a bunch of thin-skinned creeps.
Posted 10:59 PM, 10/17/2008
Matulavich and Plusquellic teaming up to punish someone for doing nothing wrong. If Matulavich would spent his time trying to run the police dept correctly and Mayor Don would pay more attention to important stuff, like his disfunctional sewer system, the city might not be so far in the red. Matulavich will soon be out. I down and one to go.
Posted 11:43 PM, 10/17/2008
Feel better, James? Where do you work? What is your record? Who is watching you?
