The Issue

As a concerned citizen of North Royalton, Ohio, I am deeply distressed about the current state of our police leadership. It has come to light that Chief of Police Keith Tarase’s corrupt and unethical behavior has led to distrust among both his police force and the citizens of North Royalton.

My apprehensions are fueled by the recent incident involving Chief Tarase’s decision to alter a police report made by Officer Spencer Lowe.

In the initial report (as seen on the body camera footage—see below), Officer Lowe arrested Deputy Chief O’Callahan of Orange Village for DUI, as well as on felony charges of possessing loaded firearms in his vehicle while intoxicated. Shortly afterward, North Royalton Chief Tarase was accused of altering Lowe’s police report to remove the felony charges, resulting in the arrest being reported only as a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

Courageous Officer Spencer Lowe reported the change in the police report, which led to Orange Village Chief O’Callahan being immediately placed on administrative leave. However, while North Royalton Mayor Antoskiewicz claims there is a further investigation pending on Chief Tarase, Tarase has not been placed on—even temporary—leave following this incident. He continues to work as usual.

This entire incident reflects a worrisome misuse of power that cannot be ignored. Manipulating police reports to downgrade severe charges is not just unethical; it compromises the integrity of our justice system and endangers public trust.

Our community deserves to feel safe and secure, knowing that our law enforcement and leaders are honest, transparent, and reliable. The leadership of Chief Keith Tarase has proven to be unethical at best, and it is imperative that we take action now to restore confidence in our police force.

Beyond this incident, North Royalton Chief Tarase has made other decisions that have diminished both the safety and morale of North Royalton’s police department. These include:

-Removing DUI checkpoints
-Purchasing drones that have not been used
-Reducing officers on each shift to historic lows of only four officers per shift
-Installing surveillance cameras throughout the police station, creating an atmosphere of distrust.

These and other allegations have led to a situation in which a Vote of No Confidence was issued by the police force against Chief Tarase. (The vote received an overwhelming approval of 80% of the staff.) The Mayor has chosen to defend the chief among these concerns, which not only undermines the morale and effectiveness of our police department but also casts a shadow of doubt over the safety and security of our community.

North Royalton is a home to an incredible group of dedicated police officers who serve our community with integrity and pride.  They deserve leadership that upholds the same high moral standards and commitment to honesty that they demonstrate every day.

I urge Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz to act promptly by removing Keith Tarase from his position as Chief of Police. Doing so will help restore faith and transparency within the department and provide a stable foundation for future community policing efforts.

Join me in advocating for accountability and safety in North Royalton. Sign this petition to demand a change in leadership that will prioritize the well-being and security of all residents.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcZVIhKD5Vo&t=103s  - WKYC Channel 3 News report

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https://c.org/6HqGq7MQQY - Sign the Petition!!

CHANGE ORG link:
https://www.change.org/p/hold-chief-keith-tarase-accountable-protect-north-royalton?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=mobileNativeShare&utm_campaign=share_petition&recruited_by_id=398befe0-b734-11f0-99bd-f19db0ef9686

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