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North Royalton resident urges council to place Chief Tarase on leave amid investigation
Summary
At the Nov. 5 City Council meeting, resident Samuel Cruse said officers filed a 'Vote of No Confidence' in the police chief and alleged the chief is under investigation for altering a police report; he presented a petition of over 400 signatures calling for the chief to be placed on leave under ORC 124.388. Council recessed into executive session and took no public action on the request.
Samuel Cruse, a U.S. Marine, husband, father and local small-business owner, told the North Royalton City Council on Nov. 5 that officers in the department had filed a "Vote of No Confidence" in their chief and that the chief "is currently under investigation for allegedly illegally altering a police report." Cruse said his wife circulated a petition that had garnered "over 400 signatures" and asked the council to place Chief Tarase on leave during the investigation "in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 124.388."
"We believe that the integrity of our police force is at stake," Cruse said, adding that officers need a leader they can respect. He framed his request as one aimed at restoring morale and ethical leadership within the department.
The record shows Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz earlier in the meeting requested an executive session to consider personnel matters and related investigations under Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G)(1). Later in the meeting President of Council Paul Marnecheck moved — and the council agreed — to hold an executive session immediately following regular business; council then recessed into executive session at 7:33 p.m. Invited into the executive session were Mayor Antoskiewicz, Assistant Law Director Todd Schrader and Clerk of Council Helen Dunlap. The council reconvened at 8:11 p.m. The meeting record does not show any public vote or formal council action at the Nov. 5 meeting to place Chief Tarase on administrative leave.
Also during public comment, Dr. Richard Rowlett, Director of Clinical Services for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, gave an overview of services. He said two-thirds of Cuyahoga DD's approximately $150 million budget is funded by a 3.0-mil continuous levy last passed by county voters in 2005, noted the agency served about 225 North Royalton residents in the last year, and said the agency awarded $180,000 in community grants in 2025.
The council did not announce any public action in response to Cruse's request at the meeting. The council's next regular meeting minutes were approved Nov. 18, 2025, per the record.
