Alleged misconduct, improper behavior by Put-In-Bay police being investigated

A Put-in-Bay police officer on patrol last month along Bayview Avenue.

PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio -- Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Levorchick has launched an investigation of alleged misconduct and improper behavior by members of the Put-in-Bay Police Department, the sheriff confirmed today.

Sheriff Levorchick is working with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and has requested a special prosecutor from Lucas County to present any charges that may arise to a grand jury.

“We’ve received numerous complaints from individuals on South Bass Island of misconduct in the police department,” Sheriff Levorchick said.

He said one of his investigators and an investigator from BCI are on South Bass Island looking into the complaints.

“The investigation’s in the early stages. Our job is to investigate, gather evidence, gather statements, and present it to the prosecuting attorney’s office,” Sheriff Levorchick said, noting that the investigation has been under way for several weeks but could not be publicly disclosed until Friday.

The allegations included a complaint from Dennis Rectenwald, a former Port Clinton schools superintendent who was handcuffed after being stopped on his property for a traffic violation in July, and abuse complaints from three employees of Put-in-Bay Resort last September.

Sheriff Levorchick said he discussed the need for a special prosecutor with Ottawa County Prosecutor Mark Mulligan because Mr. Mulligan’s name came up in one of the allegations.

The Sandusky Register reported today that surveillance video associated with the Put-in-Bay Resort arrests includes Put-in Bay Police Sgt. Steve Korossy stating that Mr. Mulligan authorized the arrests.

Mr. Mulligan did not immediately respond to a phone call today.

The sheriff said he also contacted a federal agency, which he declined to identify, but after looking into the allegations the agency decided there was not a reason for federal involvement.