Perry trustees tap interim police chief amid Pomesky suspension

PERRY TWP. – Trustees have affirmed that Police Chief Mike Pomesky will remain on paid suspension indefinitely while also naming a "temporary chief."

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Following a special, closed-door meeting Tuesday that ran about three hours, the Perry Board of Trustees agreed 3-0 to name Chad Guist as the interim chief. Guist is a Perry Police Department sergeant and his new position is effective immediately, Trustee Lisa Nelligan said.

Guist has about 24 years of service with Perry police.

Pomesky was placed on paid, administrative leave Aug. 16 by trustees, who voted unanimously on the move following a closed-door discussion that included the chief. He earns approximately $83,000 a year.

Police sergeants have been leading the three daily police shifts to make up for Pomesky's indefinite absence.

Little information has been given by trustees for putting Pomesky on leave. Officials remained mostly mum on the issue Tuesday night after being asked specific questions by The Independent.

"It's a process we're going through right now and will continue," said township attorney James Mathews, adding that Pomesky's status may be revisited during next week's board meeting.

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Trustee Ralph DeChiara Jr. has said that the suspension was partially related to an arrest in early August ordered by the chief on the executive of a Columbus-based human resources agency, which was hired in July to work with the township.

Two misdemeanor criminal charges had been filed against the leader of Training Marbles, the firm hired by trustees to conduct internal workforce surveys and personnel training, Pomesky had said.

Public records document outlines conditions of police chief's paid suspension

According to Perry Township records, a condition of Pomesky's administrative leave included turning in work-related government property, such as his police cruiser, badge, radio and cellphone.

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He is also prohibited from entering the Police Department station and official township buildings, such as Township Hall, unless invited to do so. Public parks and other related public facilities were excluded from that order.

Pomesky, 46, has served as the Perry police chief since December 2009.

Hired as an officer in 2001, Pomesky worked his way up the Police Department ranks. He was promoted to sergeant before taking over as chief.

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Perry names Chad Guist temporary police chief amid Pomesky suspension