Indicted, convicted Parma Police Chief Joseph Bokak Destroyed Evidence in Criminal Cases, including a Hard Drive and Computer containing information about the murder of Pasela

  • Chief Joe Bobak was indicted and subsequently convicted in March 2026 for destroying police computers, case 26-CRB-00327, Parma Municipal Court
  • Bobak previously held a secret meeting, where no notes were taken, with Senior Assistant Ohio Attorney General Dan Kasaris to discuss the Kasaris undercover operation that led to the murder of Dawn Pasela
  • Parma Safety Director Bob Coury, the subject of our next investigation, worked with Kasaris and Pasela at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and oversaw the Medical Examiner’s Office when Pasela was found dead.

The FreeTonyViola.com Investigative Team obtained key information including a detailed internal investigation memorandum prepared by the Parma Police Department after Chief Joseph Bobak’s department-issued computer hard drive went missing. The investigation, posted on the FreeTonyViola.com website, concludes that Bobak removed the hard drive from a city-owned computer and admitted doing so, even though it contained public records, communications with Dan Kasaris about the investigation into the murder of Dawn Pasela and other confidential police files and investigative material.

                         

Parma Police Chief Joseph Bobak was criminally charged and convicted for destroying evidence following a secret meeting with Senior Assistant Ohio Attorney General Dan Kasaris about the Murder of Dawn Pasela, who Kasaris ordered on an illegal undercover operation.

Bobak Admitted in a Recorded Interview he Destroyed his Computer

Following Bobak’s retirement, newly appointed Chief James Blair noticed Bobak’s office computer was missing a hard drive. Investigators later determined the hard drive had been physically removed from the computer tower, leading to a recorded phone call between Bobak and Blair, where Bobak admitted he removed the drive and destroyed it. Bobak said he “removed the hard drive from the computer tower … I still had that drive and had no plans to give Blair the drive back.”  The memo states Blair warned Bobak that the hard drive could contain public records and city property. Blair told Bobak that “those records were not backed up and that’s on me and I need to cover my own ass.”

Surveillance footage proves that Bobak entered and left restricted areas carrying bags and boxes in the days surrounding his retirement

On February 20, 2024, surveillance allegedly captured an employee carrying a white banker’s box into the maintenance tool room where a box lid was removed and the contents appeared empty afterward. Investigators noted this was the same day Blair discovered Bobak’s office computer missing its hard drive.  In addition, a DataServ logs showed the computer and hard drive were still connected to the network after Bobak left the building on February 19, creating questions about who disconnected the machine later that day or if a co-conspirator who still works for the Parma Police or Safety Department was involved.

Not only did the Bobak hard drive contain public records and confidential investigative materials, but includes his secret discussions with Prosecutor Dan Kasaris – where no notes were taken and no record of the interview was made.  Individuals copied on this email include Parma Safety Director Bob Coury.

Destruction of Evidence Concerning Dawn Pasela, along with Safety Director Bob Coury’s ongoing Misconduct, demand an outside Review

Blair accused Bobak of violating public-records laws by destroying the hard drive, and the call transcript has Bobak saying there was “confidential” material and “stuff” connected to matters he handled, which is relevant to the investigation into Dawn Pasela’s murder, which is detailed at www.JusticeForDawn.com.   Not only did Bobak and Safety Director Coury have communications and interactions involving Dan Kasaris about Dawn’s death, Coury has ignored a directive from the County Sheriff to implement key recommendations without offering any legitimate law enforcement rationale

“Chief Bobak’s guilty plea is not some isolated computer-disposal issue, but part of a broader cover up inside the Parma Police Department” said Tony Viola.  “The prosecution of the Police Chief over evidence destruction further bolsters our argument that an outside review is needed into what Parma Police knew, what records existed, and whether evidence or communications concerning Dawn Pasela were mishandled or destroyed, as alleged by the County Sheriff.”

ABOUT FREETONYVIOLA.COM:  FreeTonyViola.com is an independent public-interest website dedicated to examining issues related to prosecutorial practices, due process, and accountability within the criminal justice system. The site documents the legal history and ongoing advocacy efforts surrounding the case of Tony Viola, who was investigated by the Cuyahoga County Mortgage Fraud Task Force — a multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of state, local, and federal agencies — and prosecuted in parallel federal and state proceedings.

Following his federal conviction, Mr. Viola was later acquitted in a subsequent state court trial involving related allegations. FreeTonyViola.com was originally created to gather information and leads relevant to Mr. Viola’s legal matters and has since evolved into a broader informational platform that publishes case updates, court filings, and commentary concerning criminal justice issues, investigative practices, and post-conviction advocacy.  For additional information, please visit: http://www.FreeTonyViola.com, or on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tony.viola.9212 or https://www.facebook.com/JusticeforDawnPasela

X: https://x.com/tonyviola

# # #