AUSTINTOWN Community remembers police officer with memorial

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan donated a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Four months later, the guys who gather in the Austintown Middle School gym every Thursday night are still talking about the Iraqi shoe-throwing incident.
It was much like any other Thursday night in the gym: The guys were playing volleyball and laughing as they ribbed each other over their skills, or lack thereof. They say it's the type of verbal abuse they would give their brothers.
On that night four months ago, one of the guys decided to give Howie Hartzell grief about his bad play. So he threw his shoe at Hartzell, imitating the Iraqis that were in the news hitting a statue of Saddam Hussein with their shoes.
They're still laughing about it in the gym.
"Nobody is safe," Hartzell said, smiling. "We come and laugh, there's no competition."
Pete Morabito of Austintown said it's been that way since the guys started playing volleyball as the Austintown Men's Volleyball Club about 20 years ago. He added that over the years, the guys in the club have formed close friendships and are almost like family, supporting one another through sickness, job loss and family deaths.
"We've been through some hard times with people who have had problems in their lives, and we stuck by them," he said.
Like their own
Morabito noted in his 22 years with the club, the only time the guys didn't play their weekly volleyball game was this May.
About a week earlier, Howie's son, Youngstown police Patrolman Michael Hartzell, had been shot and killed while on duty downtown.
"It could've been our own son or daughter," said Tim Wingard of Austintown.
To support Howie and his family, the club paid to have a plaque and flagpole installed in Michael's memory at the new Kirk Road trailhead of the Mill Creek MetroParks bikeway.
"Howie's one of our own -- we always take care of our own," said George Porinchak of Canfield.
The flagpole and plaque, which reads "In Honor of Officer Michael Hartzell, 1976-2003" was set to be dedicated in a ceremony this morning. The flag flying on the pole was donated to the park district by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17th, of Niles; it flew over the U.S. Capitol building on Memorial Day this year.
"It's a fantastic tribute, a long-lasting one," Howie Hartzell said. "It's almost like it was their son."
Constant support
Hartzell added that he and his family appreciate all the support they've received from the community since Michael's death. He noted the family was particularly touched by the large number of people who lined the streets of Austintown for Michael's funeral procession.
The constant shows of support, however, has made it difficult for the family to move on emotionally, Hartzell said. He added that the family's next emotional test will occur this fall, when the suspect in the slaying, Martin Koliser Jr., is set to go on trial.
Hartzell said he does not plan to attend.
hill@vindy.com