Mentor officer deserving of MADD honor

BOUQUETS >> To Mentor Police Department Patrolman Erik Kupchik, on being chosen “top cop” by Mothers Against Drunk Driving of Northeast Ohio at its annual Awards of Excellence Law Enforcement Recognition event this summer. The award was announced at the Sept. 5 Mentor City Council meeting.

MADD reached out to about 50 police departments throughout the region asking them to nominate an officer who best represented MADD’s mission “to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking.”

“We narrowed down the submissions to about 25 officers, who were also recognized at our banquet,” said Jennifer Johnson, program coordinator for the Cleveland-based Northeastern Affiliate Office. “Officer Kupchik was chosen as top cop because he has made a significant contribution in making our roads and community a safer place.”

Kupchik, 37, a 15-year department employee was nominated by Mentor Police Capt. Ken Zbiegien, the department’s operations commander.

He said Kupchik is a member of the department’s Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Unit and last year made roughly 500 traffic stops resulting in 351 traffic citations and 96 arrests. Of the arrests, 44 were drug-related and 36 were for OVI.

During the first quarter of 2017, he has made about 200 traffic stops, leading to 145 traffic citations and 43 arrests. Of the arrests, 13 were for OVI.

We believe that Kupchik is a fine choice to receive this regional award.

BOUQUETS » To Mentor High School football coach Steve Trivisonno, on winning his 100th conference game.

Trivisonno achieved that milestone during the Cardinals’ 42-27 win over Strongsville on Sept. 15.

With the victory, Trivisonno won his 100th career conference game. Trivisonno, who heads into this week’s game against Brunswick with a 17566 (.726) career record, is 10017 (.855) in conference games in the Lake Erie League, Northeast Ohio Conference and Greater Cleveland Conference.

“Wow,” Trivisonno said when informed of the 100-win mark. “I’m surprised how old I am. That’s a lot of games when you think about it.”

Under Trivisonno’s tenure, Mentor was 63-11 in LEL games, 26-2 in NOC games and is now 11-4 in GCC games.

“Twenty-one years is a lot of years,” Trivisonno said. “We’ve been fortunate. We’ve had great kids and great assistant coaches.”

Congratulations to Trivisonno on his achievement.

BRICKBATS » To James Dunn of Concord Township, a former Lake County Foster Parent of the Year, after he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for committing crimes against three boys.

Dunn, 42, a longtime employee at a local insurance company until recently being terminated, was sentenced Sept. 14 by Lake County Common Pleas Judge Vincent A. Culotta.

Dunn originally faced up to 9 ½ years in prison if convicted of sex offenses against children.

On July 31, he accepted a plea deal for reduced charges. Dunn waived his right to have his felony charges of gross sexual imposition and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance presented to a grand jury.

Instead, he agreed to enter an Alford plea — which allows a defendant to plead guilty while still protesting his innocence to avoid the risk of being convicted of more serious counts — to three lesser felony counts of attempted child endangering. The plea deal allows Dunn to avoid being declared a sex offender after his release, which would have been mandatory if found guilty on the original charges.

None of the victims was foster children.

Although Dunn impressed enough people in the past to be named Lake County Foster Parent of the Year, it’s a good reminder now of how appearances can be deceiving.

BRICKBATS » To Phillip Watkins of Cincinnati, after he admitted dealing heroin laced with a drug so powerful it’s used to tranquilize elephants.

Watkins pleaded guilty recently to conspiring to distribute heroin laced with carfentanil. Prosecutors say the 32-year-old Watkins also pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a witness he believed was going to testify against him at trial.

Watkins faces up to 25 years in prison.

Based on the crimes that he committed, we think that Watkins deserves to receive a lengthy prison sentence.