Youngstown Police Captain Jason Simon was fired from YSU Police after it was found he was teaching without a license due to losing it over a sexual relationship with a student. 21 News has obtained documents revealing a past of separate harassment investigations within YPD.

The records reveal that the police captain was ordered twice to undergo sexual harassment training following complaints made by officers working under him at the station.

The "investigation and reports" document includes various incidents and behaviors. 

In a report filed in 2017, Simon allegedly sent a YPD employee "uncomfortable" messages, and the then-captain, Rod Foley did not report this to the chief because he and Simon were "vying for the same job" and didn't want to appear as if the chief was going after him.

Also within the same year, Simon was accused of asking a colleague to try on a police vest in his private office, and it made her "very uncomfortable". 

Simon reportedly claimed it was standard procedure but an investigation found other officers did not have to do the same.

The reports acknowledge a theme of power dynamics between Simon, alleged victims, and officers below his ranking, with one officer stating, "he outranks everyone," making it awkward to investigate the police captain.

YPD has ordered Simon to complete sexual harassment training in 2016 and 2018, alongside having him remove signs in his office that say "no policy zone."

Both reports concluded that Simon's behavior "does not rise to the level of sexual harassment," but instead warranted a reprimand. 

The conclusions also stated how "unique" the investigation was for both as no alleged victims "directly" reported Simons.

An officer also made comments to an alleged victim stating Simon has "always been like this."

A spokesperson for the city of Youngstown gave this statement on the investigation: "The investigations were conducted and concluded at the time of the complaints with Captain Simon receiving disciplinary action. Those incidents cannot be used to determine any action now as they fall under a two-year limitation in the union’s collective bargaining agreement, to which the city is legally bound. The allegations related to Captain Simon’s employment at Kent State were brought to the city’s attention and reviewed at that time. It was reviewed and determined then that there was no direct nexus between the complaint and his employment with the Youngstown Police Department. However, new information has come to light in the last week and is being reviewing thoroughly."

21 News reached out to Simon for comment but no response has been given as of now.

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