LORAIN – Police Officer Corey Earl is back on the job.
Lorain Safety Service Director Robert Gilchrist said Earl`s return – which comes after two weeks of paid administrative leave – was OK`d after Police Chief Cel Rivera received a copy of a court order dismissing a civil stalking protection order against Earl.
Thomas Pruitt, a corrections officer at the county jail, dropped the order March 6 without explanation, according to court records.
“We felt comfortable that he could return to duty,” Gilchrist said.
In his initial complaint, Pruitt wrote that Earl had made threats against him to his captain and others, including a police officer.
Rivera has said that the alleged threats were related to Earl`s marital problems and stemmed from an incident last month at Scorchers bar in Lorain. Earl was suspended and his firearm confiscated after the protection order was granted.
Gilchrist said although the completion of an internal investigation by Lorain Police aided in the decision to reinstate Earl, he still faces a predisciplinary hearing with Rivera sometime next week.
If Earl`s conduct warrants administrative charges, Rivera can suspend him for up to three days or recommend a longer suspension or termination to Gilchrist.
Rivera couldn`t be reached Wednesday.
The Sheriff`s Department investigated the allegations against Earl, the findings of which have been forwarded to Elyria Prosecutor Jay Grunda. Grunda said Wednesday he`s still reviewing the case to determine whether charges are warranted.
This is not the first time Earl has had problems.
Before Earl and his wife, Laura, were divorced, Laura Earl obtained a protection order against him after he allegedly threatened to kill himself in front of her.
Corey Earl later was charged with violating that protection order after he had contact with Laura Earl. The charge was dismissed in January because prosecutors doubted the truth of Laura Earl`s allegations.
In addition, Corey Earl was reprimanded late last year for using foul language and discussing his ex-wife when he pulled over the ex-husband of the woman he was dating in November, according to police. Earl was told to stay away from the man and the girlfriend at the time.
Contact Stephen Szucs at 329-7129 or sszucs@chroniclet.com.

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