WASHINGTONVILLE Donation provides 2nd cruiser to police

The second car will save wear and tear on the department's newer vehicle, the chief said.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
WASHINGTONVILLE -- With much anticipation, police connected sirens, lights and radio to the department's new cruiser.
Chief J.R. Blakeman planned to officially put the vehicle on the road Thursday, taking the car on its first Washingtonville patrol himself.
The vehicle is a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria that's logged more than 100,000 miles, but for this tiny department, the car is a gem.
Poland Township police donated the car to the department in September.
For about six months, Washingtonville's only vehicle has been a 2001 Crown Victoria the village purchased new. The department had two vehicles, but Blakeman had to pull the older one the road because its age made it unsafe.
Blakeman said he can still use the car as a backup vehicle. Without a second car, however, police would have been without transportation if a problem occurred with the primary vehicle.
He said he also likes to keep two cruisers in the department to save wear and tear on the newer one. With the department on a shoestring budget, it will be some time before the village can approve purchase of a new car, he said.
How donation came about
Poland Township's donation was the result of a casual conversation with Mahoning County Commissioner Dave Ludt. Blakeman said he and Ludt were at a seminar recently and Blakeman related the usual budget woes of a small department, noting a used cruiser was needed.
Not long after, Ludt made some inquires. Carl Massullo, Poland Township police chief Carl Massullo got the OK from his trustees to donate the vehicle.
The Poland department recently purchased new cruisers, Blakeman said.
Blakeman is the department's only full-time officer on the six-person force.
tullis@vindy.com