Top-ranking Put-in-Bay cop jobs on the line

PUT-IN-BAY — It's showdown time in Put-in-Bay.A vote to keep, or drop, a handful of top-ranking police officers, including police Chief Steve Riddle and Lt. Doug Miller, will occur during today's village council meeting, according to the agenda. Both their probationary periods will end, prompting the vote. Riddle also seeks permission to promote Miller, who's served one full year on the island's force, to captain. The promotion would include a $4,000 raise, bringing Miller's annual salary to $58,000, according to the agenda. Riddle sought to give Miller a similar promotion and pay bump earlier this year, but the council shot it down.Put-in-Bay police Lt. Doug Miller, right, sits in the courtroom during a hearing about a civil protection order requested by Put-in-Bay resident Keith Blumensaadt on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Port Clinton. Ottawa County Judge Bruce Winters dismissed the civil protection order."That vote, to make him captain and give him a raise, was divided last time," village councilman Jeff Koehler said. "We don't have captains in our hierarchy. We would need an ordinance to establish the monetary bounds of that position."Additionally, Miller's six-month probationary period wasn't finished, which further complicated the request, Koehler said. It's not clear why Riddle wants Miller promoted, but it appears Miller is in charges of operations in the department and he does respond to inquiries of public concern. It's also unknown when, or if, Riddle will step down as village administrator, his other job with Put-in-Bay, to run the police department full-time. Riddle did not return multiple calls seeking comment on Friday. Generally, he does not respond to inquiries of public concern. It appears Monday's vote could be controversial given the ongoing state investigation into village officials' alleged financial misconduct. "I truly don't know what to expect," Koehler said.Earlier this year, island resident Keith Blumensaadt, brother to Todd Blumensaadt, owner of the Jet Express, alleged Mayor Bernard "Mac" McCann and others committed financial crimes with public funds, including theft, conflicts of interest and illegal contract awards.State and federal agents in September raided properties owned by Todd Blumensaadt, McCann and outgoing village solicitor George Wilber as part of the probe. The contents of those raids are still being reviewed, Ohio attorney general spokesman Dan Tierney said. Keith Blumensaadt also accused Riddle, Miller and the entire police department of harassing him for reporting his concerns. He engaged island officers in an hours-long standoff this summer after former Put-in-Bay Officer El'Shawn Williams tried to pull him over. The incident occurred one day before a scheduled interview between Blumensaadt and state investigators, Keith Blumensaadt said. The standoff ended peacefully when Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Levorchick stepped in. Since then, Blumensaadt remains behind bars in Port Clinton awaiting trial. Williams is also under investigation for allegedly using force improperly while on duty.Reach reporter Patrick Pfanner at pfanner@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @PatPfanner and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterPut-in-Bay police Chief Steve Riddle testifies during a civil protection order hearing in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court.