EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The East Cleveland mayor fired the city’s deputy safety director after he allegedly crossed the “legal boundaries” for the role.
Mayor Lateek Shabazz issued the letter of termination to Deputy Safety Director Mansell Baker on Friday.
Shabazz lists the following incidents as the reason for the termination:
- Falsifying his oath of office to include the title “Safety Director,” which had not been officially conferred;
- Wearing a badge labeled “Chief of Police” without authorization;
- Removing a city-issued police vehicle from city limits in violation of municipal policy;
- Initiating and participating in a vehicular pursuit that crossed municipal boundaries, ending in Euclid, despite East Cleveland police terminating the pursuit at the city line with Cleveland;
- Responding to 911 calls while armed and dressed in tactical gear on city property, despite lacking police authority or commission.
“These actions reflect a troubling pattern of conduct inconsistent with the responsibilities and legal boundaries of the Deputy Safety Director position,” Shabazz said…