LISBON — Lisbon Police Chief Mike Abraham released the details this week regarding the recent demotion of Jordan Reynolds from the rank of lieutenant down to officer, with the signing of a temporary liquor permit at the request of Mayor Peter Wilson one of the reasons.

According to Abraham and his written report, he gave Reynolds permission on Jan. 29 to sign the liquor permit applications being brought to the police station by Lisbon Chamber board President Carly Brock for the Wine about Winter event. Under normal circumstances, the chief signs the permit applications, but he had to leave and told Reynolds what to do.

On Feb. 11, Abraham reported receiving a call from Brock questioning who signed a permit for Michael Wilson, the mayor’s brother, for his antique business on East Lincoln Way. Abraham contacted Reynolds and learned the mayor brought it to Reynolds to sign on Jan. 30, the day after all the other applications had been delivered by Brock. Reynolds dated it for Jan. 29.

The chief told Reynolds he did not have his permission to sign it and Reynolds thought it was one he forgot to sign the day before.

Abraham said the forms are required to be filled out by the property owner and signed by the property owner. Abraham said the form was filled out and signed by the mayor, not his brother, who is the property owner. The permit was issued, but was revoked by the chamber, and during the event, only non-alcoholic beverages were served at that particular location.

“If we wouldn’t have caught this, there would have been an illegal permit,” Abraham said.

He thanked Brock from the chamber for bringing it to his attention.

“Ultimately, I’m responsible to all these liquor permits. I appreciate her honesty for bringing it to my attention,” Abraham said.

When contacted regarding the situation, Mayor Peter Wilson sent a written response via email: “When I went to the chamber of commerce for an application form for my brother’s business to participate in Wine about Winter, I was told that I needed to file it immediately. My brother lives in Philadelphia. I called him and he authorized me to sign the form on his behalf, which I did. Upon reflection, I could have done this differently; I didn’t think there would be an issue.”

Another reason for the demotion stemmed from Reynolds working a security detail at Garwood Arena in the Columbiana area and having a second Lisbon officer with him, with both of them wearing their Lisbon gear, including badges and Lisbon police hoodies. Abraham said he was informed on Feb. 15 about his officers being there and when he contacted the second officer, he learned that Reynolds told him to wear the Lisbon gear. Abraham said they can’t wear their Lisbon uniforms and badges to do security outside of their jurisdiction.

When asked why that’s a problem, Abraham said if something had happened there, Lisbon police could have been in jeopardy for lawsuits. When asked if the other officer was facing any discipline regarding the uniform issue, he said no because he was following an order from a supervisor.

A third reason listed on the chief’s report was that Reynolds was talking to a class at the career center for 3.5 hours of his shift recently and that wasn’t approved by the chief.

By the rules, if the chief makes a complaint, then it goes to the mayor and then the mayor orders the punishment, which in this case then went to council. Reynolds was initially suspended for three days with pay, then council voted to demote him. He remains an officer with the Lisbon Police Department.

He received a verbal reprimand for neglect of duty for spending the time at the career center while he was on duty on Jan. 26. The written suspension for the liquor permit signing and uniform situation cited incompetency and insubordination, noting the suspension with pay until the mayor rendered judgment.

According to Abraham, Wilson initially wanted the reprimand for incompetency and insubordination dropped and stricken from Reynolds’ file, but Abraham said he couldn’t do that. In a revised order, Wilson noted that he did not support the written reprimand regarding the signing of the liquor permit application. He did, however, support the written reprimand for Reynolds using his badge during the security detail outside the village.

When contacted about his change in rank, Reynolds declined to comment. The mayor said he’s a good officer and the chief also said he’s a good officer.

“I think that he loves his job. I think that he loves doing police work. I just don’t know if he’s quite ready to take on a supervisory job due to some of the decisions he made,” Abraham said.

Reynolds previously worked for the Perry Township Police Department, then came to Lisbon on Sept. 14, 2022 as a patrolman. He was promoted to sergeant in July 2024 and then was promoted to lieutenant in November 2025. He didn’t appeal the punishment. Abraham said there is progressive discipline, but in a case like this, if an officer is accused of a serious infraction, the law allows for suspension or demotion without following progressive discipline.