Cleveland city officials went silent the day after the their ex-police chief retired amidst controversy.
Dennis Maddux submitted his retirement letter on Tuesday after months of turmoil, from being caught in an affair with a subordinate's wife by her husband to an internal affairs investigation coordinated by the district attorney's office that found he violated several department policies that merited termination.
The fate of the 28-year veteran rested in the hands of City Manager Janice Casteel, who did not respond to multiple requests for comment Tuesday night and Wednesday. After deadline Wednesday night, Casteel in an email deferred questions to police spokeswoman Evie West, who had already told the Times Free Press that only Casteel could comment on personnel decisions.
Acting Police Chief Mark Gibson said Wednesday he gave his disciplinary recommendation to city officials Tuesday, and it was awaiting Casteel's approval when Maddux emailed his resignation to Casteel.
Gibson said he also could not comment on his recommendation for Maddux, saying "[the city] will not proceed with my recommendation because they are going to let Maddux retire."
The Times Free Press submitted a public records request for the disciplinary recommendation last week. Multiple requests to Casteel and the city's records custodian, City Clerk Shawn McKay, for the document on Wednesday went unanswered.
Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland and most City Council members did not return requests for comment Wednesday about Maddux's departure. Three council members told the Times Free Press they support Casteel's decision to accept the resignation.
Councilman George Poe said he understands Maddux retired of his own accord, without pressure. He believes that if Maddux had not retired, Casteel would have allowed him to remain on the force.
Councilman Charlie McKenzie agreed, and said he was shocked when he heard Maddux was retiring.
"I don't think there was ever any talk of letting [Maddux] go," he said. "[But] I would love to receive the retirement he will get."
Vice Mayor Avery Johnson said it's Casteel's job to handle personnel matters.
"The city wants to continue to be positive about this [incident] and make sure Maddux is able to go [and find other work] because he is too young to retire," Johnson said. "Because of this I support the city's decision."
The internal affairs investigation found Maddux guilty of lying and of failing to report domestic violence after he was caught in a dark blue Cadillac with Officer Jeff Griggs' wife, Cindy, on Feb. 28.
Cleveland Police Chief Dennis MadduxBoth at first denied the affair, but eventually admitted to having sexual relations for several months. Maddux also was found to have violated policy by failing to report domestic abuse. He had told investigators he believed Cindy Griggs was being hurt by her husband. Not only did he not report it, when Jeff Griggs confronted them that day, Maddux drove off and left Cindy Griggs behind with him.
In his resignation letter, Maddux asserted his innocence, saying that his integrity as a law enforcement officer was never questioned, and that his "private life should not be a factor in the demise of an otherwise flawless career."
Maddux also said that the internal affairs investigation was "twisted" and "subjective, presumptive, and unorthodox."
Tenth Judicial District Attorney Steve Crump said he disagrees completely with Maddux's characterization of the investigation.
Crump said the investigation relied entirely on Maddux's and Casteel's statements to investigators, and that he doesn't understand how Maddux can say his own admissions were twisted by an agenda.
"The issues related to Mr. Maddux were brought about by his actions and the statements he made," Crump said. "... We don't take these investigations lightly."
There's a precedent for Maddux's retirement in lieu of termination. Former Chief Wes Snyder abruptly retired in January 2014 after a surveillance tape surfaced showing him and a woman entering and leaving an apparent love nest, tucked away inside a rental warehouse storage unit fitted with a rug, blankets and a bottle of brandy.
But the fate of Officer Jeff Griggs and Lt. Steve Tyson, who helped Griggs during the incident, is pending.
Both men were found in violation of department policies. Gibson said he has sent his disciplinary recommendation regarding the two to Casteel and anticipates that she will make a decision soon.
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.