Nyerges seeks medical disability
By Jeff Gallatin
Bay Village
Published Aug. 8, 2007

Sgt. Warren Nyerges

Twenty-year veteran Bay Village Police Sgt. Warren Nyerges, who is facing charges in Rocky River of using illegal steroids, domestic violence and having a dangerous animal, has applied to the state for a medical disability, officials said.

Both Nyerges’ attorney Gary Seewald and Bay Village Law Director Gary Ebert confirmed the former DARE officer and patrol shift supervisor has formally filed his request with state officials for medical reasons.

“He is having problems with his heart and is seeking the disability as a result,” Seewald said.

Seewald declined to speculate on whether Nyerges’ alleged use of steroids contributed to his heart problems, only saying that Ohio state laws provide for Nyerges’ being able to apply for the disability for heart health issues.

“He filed the request for medical reasons several weeks ago, and we’re waiting to hear back from the state on it,” he said.

Seewald also continued to decline to discuss the charges against Nyerges in Rocky River, citing the ongoing nature of the case. Both the city and Nyerges’ defense attorneys are awaiting the assignment of a visiting judge to Nyerges’ case which will be heard in Rocky River Municipal court. Both Rocky River municipal judges, Donna Congeni Fitzsimmons and Maureen Gravens have recused themselves from the case, citing their work with Nyerges in law enforcement and community events. Bay Village is one of five cities whose cases are filed in Rocky River Municipal Court.

Rocky River police officials said the move has no bearing on their case against Nyerges and that the charges remain whatever the state decides.

Ebert said the city has no say in the disability request by Nyerges.

“He has every right to make that request of the state as a public employee, and the city has no say in that decision,” Ebert said. “It will be made by the state officials who examine the case.”

Ebert said city officials were informed of Nyerges’ move by Seewald.

“We can’t do anything else and won’t know anything else until the state informs us all of its decision,” Ebert said.

He said Nyerges is currently using up the remainder of his paid sick leave and vacation time with the city.

“Again, it’s a case of where the city can’t really do anything about that,” Ebert said. “If he leaves the department, we would have had to pay that to him anyway. So, he’s using it up now while everything is pending.”

City officials had initially put Nyerges on paid administrative leave after Rocky River Police charged him with domestic violence and having afive-foot-long alligator in his home after a June 6 incident at his home in which Nyerges allegedly threatened bodily harm to himself, his wife and her dog. Nyerges was suspended without pay after Rocky River added the drug abuse charge stemming from steroids found in his home after officers obtained a search warrant and found pills which tests later confirmed were steroids.

Bay Village Police Chief Dave Wright said he couldn’t say much about the latest development because state law prohibits his discussing an employee’s possible medical condition.

“We as a department have to see how this turns out before anything else can happen,” he said.

Ebert estimated that it would take at least 90 days before any decision is rendered by the state on the disability request.

(West Life reporter Ben Saylor also contributed to this story.)

• Veteran police officer charged (West Life, June 20, 2007)