MASSILLON, OhioPolice Chief Robert Williams admits using his department computer for personal use against city policy.
"I certainly acknowledge that I have done church work on the city computer, I have done college work on the city computer," Williams told Fox 8 News on Monday.
The confession follows his two day suspension as a result of an investigation that Safety Services Director Mike Loudiana says was apparently started in 2005 by a police department captain but never revealed to anyone in the city until earlier this year
In a complaint turned over to the city, Captain Rick Ullum accuses the chief of misusing the computer for college course work, writing sermons for several different churches he helps pastor, of managing a fantasy football league and even of opening lewd e-mails.
He also accuses the chief of keeping his office door locked, not holding meetings, turning in blank time cards and more.
Loudiana says the accusations came to the attention of the city just as Capt. Ullum was retiring earlier this year, and that his investigation was conducted without anyone knowing. He also admits that the officer who compiled the report was a candidate for chief at the same time Williams was promoted to the job.
"He was up for the chief's job, that is correct. However, he didn't do as well on the test as the chief did, and according to civil service law then the chief became the chief based on all the tests, psychological, written and verbal," explained Loudiana.
"I can't say for a fact that it was a grudge on Capt. Ullum's part. In this whole course of this matter he has never once talked to me or called me," said Loudiana. "It bothers me that this investigation went on this long and I was never privy to it because I am responsible for the police department and anything of this nature should be brought to my attention immediately and it wasn't, so this is clearly something he did on his own. He wasn't asked to do it, he did it on his own, and he saved it for the appropriate time."
Even so, Loudiana says the city has a policy against the personal use of computers and any other city property. When the accusations were made, Loudiana says he personally took the Chief's computer to a BCS Crime lab in Youngstown for identification.
"There was no criminal activity at all on the computer," said Loudiana. "The only thing we found is that he did use the computer for personal use. However, there's always a question as to when he did that because the police chief does not have set hours."
In the report, Capt. Ullum recommends the city fire Chief Williams.
"There's certainly certain people who have their own agendas and certain political motivations. However, once again me and the gentleman who made the allegations," said the Chief on Monday.
"We competed for this position in 2005, we have taken a competitive civil service examinations as well as assessments from outside chiefs, and I was blessed to come out in first place on both of the exams and I was promoted to the position in 2005."
"At that point the person who I competed with (Ullum) had a master's degree. I had a high school diploma. I was very aware that we have a credential oriented society so immediately I began going back to school when I became police chief."
"At the same time I accepted my calling as a preacher that same year, so needless to say from 2005 'til now I have been extremely busy. I am one class away from actually achieving my master's degree in theological studies as well. I also have a part time job in the last six years as well. I have pastored a church in Dover, Ohio. I am pastor with two other great preachers at Lifesong Church for the past year and also served as Associate Minister at St. James AME Zion Church. I'm not making excuses, I have just been very busy," explained the Chief.
But Williams says some of the accusations are exaggerated.
"I've never been the commissioner of our (fantasy football) league, but we have had a fantasy football league for over 16 years. I was a patrolman when that first began, but for the last six years I have been the chief and I have participated and have been involved in fantasy football in our police department."
"I think its a great thing for morale, it's a great thing that the guys joke around. It gives me an opportunity to be one of the guys for a period of time, obviously from my position I don't get to socialize with them very often so I think it's a good thing for morale but, however, obviously since these allegations have been made I or no one else will be doing that type of activity on our city computers."
Loudiana says even though the city has a policy against the personal use of department computers by employees, to his knowledge Ullum never investigated any other police department or city employees.
"We have never had this case come up since I have been here seven years. So I'm sure this will set an example unfortunately but the chief has been very agreeable, he has already taken his two days off with pay and we are moving on," he explained.
"We respect the chief tremendously," said Loudiana, who admitted he is not going to be actively investigating how every city employee is using their computers.
"You kind of hope that your employees follow the rules and I think for the most part ours do. I mean, yeah, they are going to get an occasional e-mail from one of your kids or your wife or you are going to go on to check something out but in this case there was a lot of usage and I am hoping we don't have any other employees that are spending most of their time on the computer."
"I think it's important that we do our jobs," said Chief Williams of the city's policy. "If it's not really interfering with our jobs then once again its going to be up to people's opinion what they should or shouldn't do but if the city has taken a stance that there's no tolerance for it then it has to stop."
"If I brought any embarrassment to the officers of our police department or to the citizens of Massillon I offer my sincere apology for that. That was not my intent and I will do better."
"I certainly acknowledge that I have done church work on the city computer, I have done college work on the city computer," Williams told Fox 8 News on Monday.
The confession follows his two day suspension as a result of an investigation that Safety Services Director Mike Loudiana says was apparently started in 2005 by a police department captain but never revealed to anyone in the city until earlier this year
In a complaint turned over to the city, Captain Rick Ullum accuses the chief of misusing the computer for college course work, writing sermons for several different churches he helps pastor, of managing a fantasy football league and even of opening lewd e-mails.
He also accuses the chief of keeping his office door locked, not holding meetings, turning in blank time cards and more.
Loudiana says the accusations came to the attention of the city just as Capt. Ullum was retiring earlier this year, and that his investigation was conducted without anyone knowing. He also admits that the officer who compiled the report was a candidate for chief at the same time Williams was promoted to the job.
"He was up for the chief's job, that is correct. However, he didn't do as well on the test as the chief did, and according to civil service law then the chief became the chief based on all the tests, psychological, written and verbal," explained Loudiana.
"I can't say for a fact that it was a grudge on Capt. Ullum's part. In this whole course of this matter he has never once talked to me or called me," said Loudiana. "It bothers me that this investigation went on this long and I was never privy to it because I am responsible for the police department and anything of this nature should be brought to my attention immediately and it wasn't, so this is clearly something he did on his own. He wasn't asked to do it, he did it on his own, and he saved it for the appropriate time."
Even so, Loudiana says the city has a policy against the personal use of computers and any other city property. When the accusations were made, Loudiana says he personally took the Chief's computer to a BCS Crime lab in Youngstown for identification.
"There was no criminal activity at all on the computer," said Loudiana. "The only thing we found is that he did use the computer for personal use. However, there's always a question as to when he did that because the police chief does not have set hours."
In the report, Capt. Ullum recommends the city fire Chief Williams.
"There's certainly certain people who have their own agendas and certain political motivations. However, once again me and the gentleman who made the allegations," said the Chief on Monday.
"We competed for this position in 2005, we have taken a competitive civil service examinations as well as assessments from outside chiefs, and I was blessed to come out in first place on both of the exams and I was promoted to the position in 2005."
"At that point the person who I competed with (Ullum) had a master's degree. I had a high school diploma. I was very aware that we have a credential oriented society so immediately I began going back to school when I became police chief."
"At the same time I accepted my calling as a preacher that same year, so needless to say from 2005 'til now I have been extremely busy. I am one class away from actually achieving my master's degree in theological studies as well. I also have a part time job in the last six years as well. I have pastored a church in Dover, Ohio. I am pastor with two other great preachers at Lifesong Church for the past year and also served as Associate Minister at St. James AME Zion Church. I'm not making excuses, I have just been very busy," explained the Chief.
But Williams says some of the accusations are exaggerated.
"I've never been the commissioner of our (fantasy football) league, but we have had a fantasy football league for over 16 years. I was a patrolman when that first began, but for the last six years I have been the chief and I have participated and have been involved in fantasy football in our police department."
"I think its a great thing for morale, it's a great thing that the guys joke around. It gives me an opportunity to be one of the guys for a period of time, obviously from my position I don't get to socialize with them very often so I think it's a good thing for morale but, however, obviously since these allegations have been made I or no one else will be doing that type of activity on our city computers."
Loudiana says even though the city has a policy against the personal use of department computers by employees, to his knowledge Ullum never investigated any other police department or city employees.
"We have never had this case come up since I have been here seven years. So I'm sure this will set an example unfortunately but the chief has been very agreeable, he has already taken his two days off with pay and we are moving on," he explained.
"We respect the chief tremendously," said Loudiana, who admitted he is not going to be actively investigating how every city employee is using their computers.
"You kind of hope that your employees follow the rules and I think for the most part ours do. I mean, yeah, they are going to get an occasional e-mail from one of your kids or your wife or you are going to go on to check something out but in this case there was a lot of usage and I am hoping we don't have any other employees that are spending most of their time on the computer."
"I think it's important that we do our jobs," said Chief Williams of the city's policy. "If it's not really interfering with our jobs then once again its going to be up to people's opinion what they should or shouldn't do but if the city has taken a stance that there's no tolerance for it then it has to stop."
"If I brought any embarrassment to the officers of our police department or to the citizens of Massillon I offer my sincere apology for that. That was not my intent and I will do better."
