TMC NEWS POLL
Elyria – The case against Elyria Police Detective Eric Vankerhove is now closed. Elyria Safety Service Director Chris Eichenlaub has followed the recommendations of Chief Michael Medders in disciplining Vankerhove.
Vankerhove will receive a 10-day suspension that will occur when it will not require the Department to incur overtime while he is serving his time off. He will also forfeit $750.00 of Senior Patrolmen Proficient pay – money he would have received is he had gone 12 months without a suspension. He will be transferred out of the Detective Bureau and into the evidence room where he has been since the incident came to light.
After the case against Vankerhove was reviewed by the City Law Director, the City Prosecutors Office and the County Prosecutors Office, it was determined that no sex crime had been committed by Vankerhove. He was then charged and convicted of misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. He pleaded no contest to both charges and received fines of $100.00 and court costs.
It should also be noted that Officer Vankerhove has never denied the incident and when meeting with Director Eichenlaub he did so without an Attorney and has indicated that he will not appeal the decision of the City.
Many people commenting about this story have said they believed Vankerhove had received special treatment throughout the process. With all of the new facts that are out and the being case is closed – we would like to know your opinion.
Vankerhove will receive a 10-day suspension that will occur when it will not require the Department to incur overtime while he is serving his time off. He will also forfeit $750.00 of Senior Patrolmen Proficient pay – money he would have received is he had gone 12 months without a suspension. He will be transferred out of the Detective Bureau and into the evidence room where he has been since the incident came to light.
After the case against Vankerhove was reviewed by the City Law Director, the City Prosecutors Office and the County Prosecutors Office, it was determined that no sex crime had been committed by Vankerhove. He was then charged and convicted of misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. He pleaded no contest to both charges and received fines of $100.00 and court costs.
It should also be noted that Officer Vankerhove has never denied the incident and when meeting with Director Eichenlaub he did so without an Attorney and has indicated that he will not appeal the decision of the City.
Many people commenting about this story have said they believed Vankerhove had received special treatment throughout the process. With all of the new facts that are out and the being case is closed – we would like to know your opinion.
posted by TMC NEWS at 1:48 AM
11 Comments:
The officer should serve the suspension time all at once. The police department does not want to incur overtime while he serves the suspension. How about this, act like a professional on and off duty and then maybe there would be NO reason for suspension?
Who's going to keep track of the actual time served? Will it be one day a month? Special treatment? It does appear so after all.
Well, I think it'd have been a different case had the girl and her family, or Marc's, had chosen to press charges. But they didn't. The girl flat out told police that she and the officer had flirtatious conversations with sexual overtones. Why is a 17 year old girl flirting with a 39 year old police officer while on the job??? Same goes for the officer, of course. Why is a 39 year old married cop flirting with a 17 year old girl while on the job??? Doesn't anyone have any morals, or sense of propriety anymore??? I think the whole thing is disgusting.
unfortunately he was prosecuted by the standards of the law and not the standards of morality. the punishment in court was fair considering the charges that were filed. the punishment by his employer were a bit light considering police officers are held in high moral regard.
Other officers at this department have been fired for doing much less. This must be a case of "The Golden Boys" treatment. Frankly Mike Tanner, Vinny Ligas, and several other did not even commit crimes and were fired. This guy commited a crime and plead guilty to it...misdemenor or not he is not fit to be a officer. And, it's common knowledge that the position he was moved to is a promotion since he will now be able to work 9-5 with weekends and holidays off. The whole department needs to be looked into..it's very common to see married officer in uniform with young girls at local places where they work side jobs. It a horriable thing to see so many young and impressionable woman lives ruined by these uniformed men who turn out to be married. Later on come to find out that they are married with children and that the officers children suffer horriable pain due to it. What a world we live in!! I feel sorry for this mans children and wife, and that poor girl all are suffering due to his actions and he is rewarded with a new position that is in no way a punishment.
a speeding ticke will get you a fine of more than $100.00 obviously it is special treatment , if you or me did the exact same crime we would be raked over the coals and fined thousands of dollars and probably served time in jail, labled a sex offender and be required to register our residence for life! This is not fair to anyone, another reason for the citizens of elyria to be ashamed of there city .....
What do you expect? The police chief was found guilty of violating one of his employees civil rights, and he's still on the job. What a joke this city has become.
Yes, I believe the punishment was too light and he should be held to a higher standard. The link I have provided shows that far worse acts by police get brushed under the rug as well, so I am not at all suprised.
My friend runs this site and she unfortunately has updates at least weekly, if not daily. I am friends with two families whose stories have made Dateline and CBS primetime as well. Barbara Winn and Crystal Judson Brame.
I am not defending any officer for anything that they have done, but if they have any sort of issues, there is a social stigma with getting help and it probably prevents much of them for seeking help.
Those things, I think, need to change. Departments need to not brush off things that would punish John Q Public for, and they need to decompress and get help without fear of embarrassment or repercussion.
Public service ain't easy. I do it. It is a thankless job more than a thankful one.
If 'Vinny' Ligas didn't commit a crime, why was he arrested and awaiting trial?
Vinny Ligas Has not be convicted of a crime....
I think that the punishment was good. Everyone is worried about the officer, what about the girl she stated they had sexual conversations on the job. Last time I checked that was against the law. I'm not saying what the officer did was right but I don't think the girl was an angel.
I have been on the recieving end of the injustice an Elyria cop brings to his family when he is found to be dirty. My response would be fire him! Unfortunately Medders does not have the guts to run his department in the light of decency. Van Kerkove is not the first to get away with a slap on the hands is he Chief Medders? Maybe we should rephrase their work ethic to total public service!
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