The former Thompson Police Chief charged with carrying out his duties without the proper certification pleaded not guilty June 29 and was released from jail on a personal recognizance bond.
The former Thompson Police Chief charged with carrying out his duties without the proper certification pleaded not guilty June 29 and was released from jail on a personal recognizance bond.
Christopher DiDomenico, 50, of Willowick, appeared before Geauga County Common Pleas Judge David M. Ondrey via video.
DiDomenico is accused of impersonating a police officer and trying to access a law enforcement database after it was alleged he did not have certification to perform the job, according to an indictment charging DiDomenico with four felonies and four misdemeanors.
According to his lawyer, Randy Klammer, Thompson Township Trustees hired DiDomenico in June of 2022 as a part-time chief and again in November as a permanent part-time chief.
Klammer said DiDomenico attended a newly-appointed chief’s meeting in Columbus as an administrative chief, and Thompson trustees paid for it.
“They allowed him to participate in the meeting,” Klammer said. “He previously held a (police) commission, it was expired (and) the township knew it was expired. And because he was doing a good job, he was asked to continue as chief.”
Charges in the indictment handed down by a Geauga County grand jury include the following:
- Abduction, a third-degree felony, after a March 4 domestic violence arrest by DiDomenico, Flaiz said.
- Tampering with records, a third-degree felony, on July 27, after submitting Bureau of Motor Vehicle paperwork in his capacity as chief.
- On two occasions in March, trying to gain access to the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway, a database that provides driving records and criminal history through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, a fifth-degree felony.
- Three other incidents of impersonating a police officer, all fourth-degree misdemeanors.
Klammer said DiDomenico never made any arrest without a certified officer on scene.
He also questioned why the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office, which oversees Thompson trustees, allowed DiDomenico to be named chief.
“The silence itself is suggesting they were doing everything appropriately,” Klammer said. “If he was doing something wrong, you would think we would have heard about it.”
Klammer said DiDomenico was excited to be asked to work for the township.
“He’s just a good guy who has never been in trouble before,” Klammer said.
When asked for comment, DiDomenico’s father, Mario, also said, “All of my kids have been good kids. They’ve never had any felonies … none of them have any criminal records. And I think this is nothing but a political —”
He was then cut off by Klammer.
Ondrey was also assigned to the case.
