2 Twinsburg officers who raised corruption allegations fired, accused of misconduct

Two Twinsburg police officers were fired Tuesday after the city alleged they violated department policies ranging from an inappropriate workplace relationship and insubordination to lying and misuse of a marked police vehicle.

Daniel Fidoe and Olivia Bartulovic were two of three officers who filed a mandamus action against the city of Twinsburg and its police chief on April 5 demanding access to records. In the filing, attorney Brian Bardwell argued those records would show how the department's leadership engaged in a pattern of corruption, sexual harassment, tampering with records and retaliatory practices.

Officer allege corruption: 3 Twinsburg officers accuse city of withholding records that could prove police corruption

Fidoe, Bartulovic and the third officer, Matthew Pfeifer, were placed on paid administrative leave in March after an internal investigation was opened into allegations that they committed multiple infractions, including being late to work and failing to supervise a subordinate, Bardwell told the Beacon Journal.

Pfeifer is still a Twinsburg employee, Bardwell said, and the status of his investigation is pending.

The city sent the Beacon Journal the investigative reports for Fidoe and Bartulovic and the notices of termination the same day those notices were issued.

Investigation alleged inappropriate relationship, misconduct

One of the three officers accused a specific officer of corruption and excessive force prior to the internal investigation. That officer then conducted the internal investigation into Bartulovic and Fidoe starting in November 2022 when another officer expressed concerns regarding Bartulovic and Fidoe.

These allegations included the two sitting in their individual cruisers while out of view of the public on multiple occasions for extended periods and parking a marked police vehicle at Bartulovic's out-of-city home for nearly four hours, according to the reports.

Bardwell said the city accused Bartulvoic of doing work for Fidoe's law enforcement consulting company while on the clock.

"This is 100% untrue. She has never done any work for Dan's consulting company," he said.

The reports also said the two officers lied during their polygraph tests in which three questions were asked about Fidoe parking at Bartulovic's home.

Bardwell described the polygraph tests as a "farce" and "unreliable."

Fidoe and Bartulovic said they did not intentionally park away from the public but added that "some people don't like Fidoe and some people don't like [Bartulovic], so it would further create a hostile work environment if they were seen," according to one report.

Fidoe told investigators they would eat and chat on their breaks.

Other allegations detailed in report

The investigative report showed Bartulovic was suspended for three days for sleeping on the job in July.

Fidoe's report said he was disciplined for three instances of insubordination regarding comments made about other officers. Those disciplinary records were not attached to the report.

His notice of termination described the most recent incident in which he described the department as "toxic" and accused department leadership of "committing crimes and engaging in corruption, nepotism, and cronyism" while at a training event.

He also allegedly referred to Twinsburg Mayor Sam Scaffide as "Jimmy Dimora's right hand man," a reference to the former Cuyahoga County commissioner previously imprisoned on public corruption charges. The termination notice accused him of dishonesty when making these comments.

"I think this is the biggest piece of what is going on − you are getting fire because you called us out for being corrupt," Bardwell said, referring to what he sees as the city's point of view.

Officers accuse city of withholding records

The three officers accused the city in a mandamus action filed in April of routinely denying document requests for files, including dispatch logs, police reports, mileage and car use, audit reports, personnel files and communications between police leadership, officers and city officials.

They accused Twinsburg Police Chief Thomas Mason of tampering with records, covering up excessive force and using city resources for personal benefit.

The petition submitted in Summit County Court of Common Pleas describes the three officers as seeking to "clean up" a pattern of misbehavior that they assert has been condoned in the department since before Mason became chief. That petition is still active in the court.

Mayor Scaffide denied the allegations, describing them as "unsubstantiated and inflammatory concerns" that "have nothing to do with the underlying public records complaint." He also called the officers' complaint a "distraction" from the internal investigations focused on them.

Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2 Twinsburg officers who raised corruption allegations fired