FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public Relations Contact:
Edward Jacak
edward@accountablenoro.com
440-941-5150
www.AccountableNoRo.com
Group says residents deserve transparency, accountability, and answers from city leadership
North Royalton, Ohio — April 15, 2026 — Accountable NoRo is voicing its support for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 15 after the union announced in a press release it has filed for binding arbitration following the firing of Patrolman Spencer Lowe and the demotion of Sgt. Flo Ann Rybicki. According to the FOP’s April 15 press release, the union is seeking Lowe’s reinstatement, the restoration of Rybicki’s rank, and full back pay and benefits for both officers.
Accountable NoRo supports the FOP’s call for an independent review of this matter. Based on publicly reported facts and the concerns being raised by residents across North Royalton, we believe this controversy has not been handled with the level of transparency the public deserves. Questions remain about how this matter was investigated, how discipline was imposed, and whether the public has received a full and trustworthy account of what happened.
FOX 8 reported April 15 that Lowe was terminated and Rybicki demoted following an internal investigation into the release of records tied to the October 2025 arrest of Orange Village Deputy Chief Patrick O’Callahan. That same reporting states the city says records were released “without authorization and outside established procedure,” while the FOP argues Lowe was exposing altered arrest documents and acting under Ohio’s whistleblower statute.
Those competing accounts are exactly why independent arbitration matters. Accountable NoRo believes the public interest is not served when major questions involving police leadership, internal records, and disciplinary action are left to a process many residents view as too closed, too political, or too difficult to trust. When confidence in leadership breaks down, the damage reaches far beyond one personnel case. It affects public faith in city government itself.
“North Royalton residents keep telling us the same thing: they want straight answers, and they are not convinced they are getting them,” said Nicolle Cruse, Accountable NoRo. “We support the effort to get this matter in front of an independent arbitrator, and we believe residents deserve a clearer accounting from city leadership about how this scandal has been handled.”
Accountable NoRo also wants residents to know that our recall signature effort against Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz is continuing. As we speak with voters across the city, this issue remains one of the most common examples residents raise when describing their concerns about transparency, leadership, and accountability at City Hall. For many, this is no longer just about one officer or one disciplinary action. It has become a broader test of whether North Royalton’s leadership is responsive to the people it serves.
The FOP’s press release argues that Lowe and Rybicki were punished after bringing forward evidence related to the handling of arrest documents, and that arbitration is needed to remove the case from what it calls the city’s “biased, political echo chamber.” Accountable NoRo believes those claims deserve independent scrutiny, not dismissal.
Accountable NoRo is currently leading a signature collection drive to secure a recall election to remove Mayor Antoskiewicz from office over these events. Their next upcoming signature collection drive will be on April 21st, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at North Royalton City Hall, located at 14600 State Road North Royalton, OH 44133. Residents who believe this issue deserves fuller public scrutiny are encouraged to stay informed, stay engaged, and support ongoing efforts to restore accountability and trust in city leadership.
About Accountable NoRo
Accountable NoRo is a grassroots Political Action Committee, registered in Cuyahoga County, made up of concerned North Royalton residents working to promote honest leadership, transparent government, and decisions that reflect the values and best interests of the community. The organization is committed to helping residents stay informed and engaged on the issues that shape daily life in North Royalton, including public integrity, safety, flooding, schools, development, and zoning.