MEMORANDUM
TO: Berea City Council and Directors
FROM: Mayor Cyril Kleem
DATE: March 3, 2011
RE: Mayor’s medical condition and response to the “mystery truck”
As you are aware, I have been dealing with some medical issues recently. Unfortunately, many rumors have been circulating as to the extent of my condition. I want to reassure everyone that what I am going through is difficult though treatable and I am still very capable of serving the citizens of Berea.
First, I have three primary conditions, Fibromyalgia, Lupus and arthritis-primarily in my spine. These conditions can affect a variety of body functions, from the bones and joints to the muscles and nervous system, from cognition to debilitating depression.
I was first hospitalized for complications associated with these conditions, namely clinical depression on August 22, 2010 for four days. I was then hospitalized for ten days at the end of December, 2010 through the beginning of January, 2011 and on another occasion for five days just two weeks ago to get my medications adjusted.
Secondly, in the past few months I have experienced a series of cognitive difficulties from short-term memory loss to awareness issues. I also was on a medication called Trazodone to treat clinical depression. Keep in mind that most experts say 60% of Lupus patients develop this debilitating illness and for the first time I am talking about this issue which is not easy.
Trazodone is in a class of medications called serotonin modulators. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mood balance. Unfortunately, one of the possible side effects of this prescription can cause an increase in suicidal thoughts and actions.
In the month of December and part of January, I was experiencing suicidal thoughts from Trazodone. I was not aware at that time that Trazodone was causing this to occur. When one experiences this kind of debilitating and harmful depression it is very painful and lonely, like hell on earth.
Thirdly, also in the month of December and part of January, I experienced a series of serious cognitive difficulties from episodes lasting several hours of short-term memory loss, to awareness issues. These conditions could have been a neurological disorder, such as seizures, the result of medications or some other medical issue, such as Fugue, which is a memory disorder, characterized by an interruption of, or dissociation from, fundamental aspects of one’s everyday life. Over the next few weeks I will continue working with a neurologist at University Hospital to address these issues.
Fourthly, this leads me to the point of the “mystery truck” which occurred on Christmas Day. I will state for the record, that my memory of Christmas week and the days that followed is very sketchy due to the medical reasons previously stated. I wasn’t even aware of these medical issues at the time. I only became aware recently after successful treatment.
Further complicating the matter is the Olmsted Falls resident who stated he saw “a kid” at 10:30 p.m. in his neighborhood who drove the truck (and I am almost 40 years old and had a beard at the time). Additionally, the “kid” was on his cell phone. My cell phone records show that I did not have a phone conversation after 6:21 p.m., four hours prior to the incident. Furthermore, the Berea patrol officer, from a distance of almost 200 feet, said at some point during his shift he though he saw my car parked near the spot where the truck was parked and the truck was missing, but his shift ended at 3:00 p.m., well before the 10:30 p.m. incident in Olmsted Falls. He also said that upon leaving his shift just after 3:00 p.m. he noticed the truck was back in the city lot and that my car was not in the lot. Finally, on Christmas Day I was in very poor health and expecting to travel to the Mayo Clinic for treatment. Two of my family members took me to the Mayo Clinic where I stayed for the following ten days.
Fifth, there have been accusations that the investigation into the “mystery truck” was not handled properly for it should have been a criminal investigation conducted by the Police. However, keep in mind that past practice dictates otherwise. When a Building Department truck was spotted an hour away from Berea, the Building Director conducted the investigation. When a Police car was spotted in an area of Strongsville where it should not have been, the Police Chief, (before the City had a Safety Director) handled the investigation. When there are investigations into the conduct of City employees, including criminal conduct, various Directors participate, rarely does the Police Department, unless the employee is in the Police Department. When there is an investigation regarding hazardous materials, it typically is conducted by the Fire Department. Furthermore, when investigations are conducted on contractors to make sure that they are following labor laws and the bid regulations, it is done so by the Engineering Department and the Building Department, which has law enforcement authorization. Even when there was missing money from the Recreation Department, the Recreation Director managed the investigation with help from the Police Department, but non-the-less it was the Recreation Director’s duty. In this particular case, this vehicle is used by multiple departments and therefore, the Personnel Director is conducting the investigation. This is consistent with past administrative reviews and investigations.
Once again I want to reassure everyone that what I am going through is difficult though treatable and I am still very capable of serving the citizens of Berea. The treatment from the Mayo Clinic and University Hospital is working very well. As I’m completing my recovery I’m feeling better day-by-day and in a few weeks I will be completely back to normal. I ask for your continued support as I work with my doctors through these difficult challenges.