They're BAAAAACCKKK!!!

[Paul Fuentes]

After you'd think we've heard it all.........

Marzullo son asks Berwyn for job
Ex-firefighter charged with father in beating

By Brett McNeil
Tribune staff reporter
Published July 7, 2005
The son of former Berwyn Public Safety Director Frank Marzullo is trying to regain his $60,000-per-year post as a Berwyn firefighter months after a criminal indictment forced him to resign from a job with the Cook County state's attorney's office.

Jerry Marzullo, 28, said in recent letters to officials that he took a one-year unpaid leave of absence in June 2004 "due to personal reasons" and wants to be reinstated as a firefighter. But the current administration doesn't want him back, and the case is headed to arbitration before the city's Police and Fire Commission.

Marzullo was indicted this spring on two counts of felony aggravated assault for his alleged role in the Election Night beating of a man outside a Forest Park steakhouse. On the night of the beating, Marzullo badly lost a bid to become a Berwyn alderman and his father's Regular Democratic Organization was all but swept from power in a city the group had long controlled.

Also indicted for their alleged roles in the April 5 beating were Frank Marzullo, who retired in April; Frank's brother Russell Marzullo Sr.; and two other men, including Berwyn Police Officer Michael Fellows. All five men are free on bond as their cases make their way through Cook County Criminal Court.

At the time of the beating, Jerry Marzullo was working as an assistant Cook County state's attorney. He resigned immediately after being indicted rather than get fired.

According to a spokesman for Cook County State's Atty. Richard Devine, Marzullo accepted the assistant state's attorney job in May 2004, more than a month before seeking the leave of absence in Berwyn.

Marzullo, who worked as a Berwyn firefighter from December 1999 to last June, did not return a phone call seeking comment for this story.

Berwyn Mayor Michael O'Connor, who is an outspoken critic of Frank Marzullo and who won a landslide upset victory earlier this year, said he opposes Jerry Marzullo's return to the city payroll.

"He basically only became a fireman so he could get his degree," O'Connor said. "I certainly don't want him back."

Through a generous tuition reimbursement program offered to all Berwyn police officers and firefighters, Marzullo received at least $29,000 toward his law degree from taxpayers, according to city records.

Berwyn officials, including a City Council committee that oversees Police and Fire Department business, so far have blocked Marzullo's attempts to be reinstated, saying he failed to follow proper procedures in obtaining the leave.

In a June 13 letter to Marzullo, a Berwyn attorney wrote: "The city is of the position that you abandoned your employment as a firefighter ... because you failed to receive the appropriate approval for a leave of absence."

Marzullo argues in his letters to city officials and in a grievance filed last month on his behalf by the firefighters union that he was granted a one-year unpaid leave of absence on June 24, 2004, and now ought to be allowed to return to the force.

But O'Connor on Wednesday said city officials have no paperwork in Marzullo's personnel file explaining why he sought the leave of absence or who granted it.

"He has no letter that says it was granted. The request could only come from his superior," O'Connor said.

Under rules spelled out in the firefighters union contract, employees are eligible for an unpaid leave of absence to pursue studies related to their work, in case of illness, for maternity leave or for an "equally good reason considered valid" by the department head.

In a letter to the city's Police and Fire Commission in June 2004, Jerry Marzullo wrote that he was taking a leave "due to personal reasons." Marzullo has provided no further written explanation for seeking or taking the leave of absence, city officials said.

In separate memos written in June 2004, then-Public Safety Director Frank Marzullo and Berwyn Fire Chief Richard Kalivoda directed the city's former finance director to change Jerry Marzullo's employment status from full time to unpaid leave. Frank Marzullo's memo stated his son had been "granted" a leave of absence; Kalivoda's memo said Jerry Marzullo "took" a leave of absence.

Berwyn mayoral aide Scott Waguespack acknowledged that Marzullo's legal troubles complicate his efforts to return to work as a firefighter.

"How can you send somebody out there who [allegedly] committed a battery and then expect the residents of Berwyn to accept him as a protector?" Waguespack said.
O'Connor said city officials are trying to place Fellows, the police officer indicted for his alleged role in the April 5 beating, on unpaid leave. An officer for seven years who last year made more than $67,000, Fellows has been on paid leave.

O'Connor said Wednesday that Frank Marzullo, who last year was paid more than $167,000, could lose his pension if convicted on any of the two felony counts of aggravated battery or four felony counts of official misconduct for which he was indicted.

[markberwyn]

Marzullo in groveling-for-old-job back shocker.

[P-PANTHER]

Some people have NO SHAME!

Quite surprising that a licensed attorney would be actively seeking a firemans position. Scuttlebut around his favored watering holes was that he had plenty of job offers pending.

GUESS NOT!!!!

[jqpublic]

Speaking of Marzullo, when is Big Daddy's trial?

Anyone want to go on a field trip?

[P-PANTHER]

I'd be surprised if it went to trial.

[Bear]

This thing will be taken to the edge with continuances
till it tries the prevailing judge's patience

[P-PANTHER]

You mean PRESIDING judge?

The thing will see its' end when ole Frankieboys attorney(s)l work out an acceptable solution to his pension/retirement issues.