TRUMBULL COUNTY Officials in 9 townships weigh joint police district

The last of furloughed sheriff's employees are to be recalled this week.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
JOHNSTON -- Officials in nine rural Trumbull County townships are considering a joint police district, in response to a perceived increase in crime since the sheriff's department cut back patrols.
"Everybody up here knows there is a problem in regard to break-ins," said Johnston Trustee Donald Barzak. "There has been a vast amount of break-ins, burglaries and vandalism, and so far, because of the budget problems they have been in, the sheriff's department has not been able to correct it."
Earlier this year, the sheriff laid off 74 road deputies and corrections officers because of the countywide budget crisis.
The cutbacks hit especially hard in rural townships, which lean heavily on the sheriff's department for protection. Most of the townships involved in discussions -- Vernon, Gustavus, Green, Bloomfield, Mecca, Bristol -- have no police other than the sheriff, although Mecca does contract with the county department for extra coverage.
Kinsman, Hartford and Johnston each now have their own part-time departments.
"This is nothing against the sheriff's department," Barzak said. "We are just looking to do something to serve our people, if we can do it cost-effectively and efficiently."
Laid-off workers recalled
The township's exploration of a joint police department comes just as the sheriff is poised to increase coverage to the level it was before layoffs.
On Friday, the sheriff expects to recall the last of the laid-off employees who have not found other jobs, said chief deputy Ernest Cook. The department has been able to recall staff with funds earned from housing federal inmates in the county jail, he said.
Bringing the deputies back will not only allow the sheriff to increase the number of deputies assigned to each shift, but it will again permit the use of the 100 or so reserve deputies, who work for the experience, without pay.
Union contracts prevented the use of the volunteer reservists while employees are on furlough, Cook said.
Cook said he could not confirm reports of increased crime in the townships because the 911 computers used to store the numbers were damaged when the county 911 center was flooded out this summer.
Barzack said that trustees have not discussed how a joint police district would be funded, beyond inquiring about possible federal grants. The townships will look within their own budgets before contemplating a tax levy, he said.
The committee exploring the proposal will next meet at 6:30 Jan. 7 in Mecca Town Hall.
siff@vindy.com