Law Dept. Employees

Law Department Employees

City of Garfield Heights, Ohio

David E. Mack | Gerald R. Stachewicz | James J. McGrath IV
Timothy J. Riley | Bea Zelasko

David E. Mack, Law Director

Mr. Mack has been the Law Director of the City since 1983. He is an experienced trial attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio and has practiced law for more than twenty-one (21) years. As the Law Director, Mr. Mack oversees a department of eight (8) full and part-time individuals who make up his staff. In addition to taking responsibility for the work product of the department, he attends all regular and special council meetings, serves on the Board of Control, acts as special counsel to the Planning Commission and represents the Judges, Clerk and employees of the Municipal Court and the employees of all other City departments, including the Mayor, all directors and Council members.

Gerald R. Stachewicz, Assistant Law Director

Mr. Stachewicz served as the City prosecutor for ten (10) years before being assigned to his current duties as Assistant Law Director in 1992. He is an experienced lawyer and comes from an extremely well-known Garfield Heights family with a long history of unselfish public service. Mr. Stachewicz handles many of the civil and insurance matters on behalf of the City, and acts as an advisor to the Zoning Board and Civil Service Commission.

James J. McGrath IV, City Prosecutor

Mr. McGrath has served as the City Prosecutor for the City since 1994. Prior to that he was an Assistant Prosecutor from 1991 through 1993. He is the Law Department staff member who devotes virtually all of his time to public safety within the municipality. Mr. McGrath evaluates and brings charges against individuals for all crimes, felony and misdemeanor, which occur in Garfield Heights. In so doing, he oversees and advises on the investigations of the Garfield Heights Police Department and works closely with its Detective Bureau. Once charged, felony crimes are handled through the preliminary hearing state, at which time they are bound over to the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury and are pursued to their conclusion by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor. Misdemeanor cases are prosecuted in the Garfield Heights Municipal Court via bench and jury trials.

Additionally, since 1994, Mr. McGrath has advised the Southeast Area Law Enforcement (S.E.A.L.E.) Narcotics Task Force in its operations. The unit is a multi-jurisdictional one covering the southeast suburban portion of Cuyahoga County which includes Garfield Heights, and is funded by federal, state and local government grants. Mr. McGrath is called upon to advise S.E.A.L.E. as to search and seizure matters, and to prepare arrest and search warrants.

Timothy J. Riley, Assistant Prosecutor

Mr. Riley serves as an assistant to the Prosecutor and the Law Director. He handles criminal matters in the Garfield Heights Municipal Court and civil matters in both state and federal district courts. Mr. Riley is the newest member of the Law Department, having served the City since January, 1994.

Bea Zelasko, Executive Secretary

Ms. Zelasko has been the Law Department's executive secretary and office manager since April, 1991. She has the extremely important role of overseeing the day-to-day activities of a complex department. She also coordinates the communication and work product of law and work product flow between all outside sources and the lawyers and the law clerks of the Department.

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