Story Archive

The Color of Authority

John Kovach Jr of Lorain, Ohio, was not happy with his daughter’s choice of boyfriends. No, that’s not an unusual stance for a father, except that Kovach’s daughter is an adult, and Kovach is a cop: he pulled the couple over and detained them, telling the boyfriend he was going to jail. On what charge? “We’ll make s--t up as we go,” Kovach replied. He didn’t call in the traffic stop to dispatch, and ignored being directed to a road rage incident. Kovach eventually let the boyfriend go without any citations or criminal charges, but drove his daughter away in his cruiser. Kovach then lied to internal affairs investigators about the “probable cause” for the traffic stop, and other points. Since the 26-year police veteran has other charges of exceeding his authority in his personnel file, including one that he was warned was a “last chance” situation, Kovach was fired, and prosecutors are reviewing the case to see if charges are warranted. “Clearly he acted outside of the purview of his duties as an officer of the law,” said police union president Kyle Gelenius. “We are just as disturbed as anyone else.” (RC/Elyria Chronicle-Telegram) ...There is a thin blue line, and it shouldn’t be stepped over.