Former Lorain police chief cleared in sheriff's office investigation

LORAIN — A former Lorain police chief has been cleared of wrongdoing following an investigation launched last year by the Lorain County Sheriff's Office. Police Chief James McCann was placed on administrative leave last year after remarks he allegedly made were disclosed during an internal Lorain police investigation into complaints made against McCann by Lt. Corey Middlebrooks after he was demoted from captain. McCann retired under a separation agreement in September. Middlebrooks, meanwhile, was fired in April and has a grievance pending. The allegations included that McCann made a comment that he wished Detective Craig Payne was a "dirty cop" because he "needed someone taken care of," according to an interview Lorain investigators conducted with Payne during an investigation into Middlebrooks' allegations. The Lorain County Sheriff's Office took over the internal investigation in April. Deputies reviewed the Lorain Police Department's internal investigation, and conducted additional interviews, and investigators found the comment was made in jest. "McCann had a history of making comments that others would consider inappropriate," the Sheriff's Office report stated. "These actions and comments may reflect McCann's character and could constitute administrative sanctions; however, the comment was not made with any criminal intent." Deputies also found an anonymous complaint alleging McCann had defrauded the city by failing to work his required hours was unsubstantiated. The complaint, which alleged McCann did not work 40 hours per week and made the city pay officers filling in for him, was unsubstantiated by the Sheriff's Office and state auditor. The Sheriff's Office report concluded McCann was a salaried employee with the flexibility to work at home or remotely, and that his absences caused four different captains to serve as acting chief at various times from December 2019 to February 2023. The city paid a total of $86,703 to those captains who served as acting chief, according to the report. The city has since changed its policy for acting chiefs. Now there is a deputy chief position and the deputy chief receives a base stipend rather than higher shift differential pay. The final set of allegations against McCann included a series of complaints submitted by Lorain resident Aaron Knapp. Knapp alleged McCann and other officers had harassed and intimidated him because he was critical of the department, including McCann reportedly filing a complaint with the state Counselor and Social Work Board against Knapp. Knapp is still a licensed social worker, according to the state. The Sheriff's Office found Knapp's complaints did not meet the "elements of criminal intent and in some instances are unsupported by facts." Sheriff Jack Hall said in an email that the investigation was completed in mid-January and forwarded to the Prosecutor's Office for review. The prosecutor has since advised Hall his office would not seek charges. McCann could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.