JOHN SCOTT, 83 Friends, family to honor retired police chief

Scott worked his way up from dispatcher to chief.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- When he retired as police chief in 1987, John Scott, also known as Jack, told a reporter that he had appreciated having the opportunity to help township residents during his 27 years with the police department.
"You feel good every day when you do something for people," he said.
Today, Scott's co-workers, friends and family will show their appreciation for him and say goodbye during funeral services and a procession from the funeral home, to his church, and finally to his grave site. Scott, 83, died Tuesday morning at his home after a two-month illness.
He began working as a police officer in 1960 and he was appointed chief in 1980.
Flag to be presented
Acting Police Chief Lt. Mark Durkin, who was first hired by Scott, said the funeral procession will be led by an Austintown police cruiser, and that the department will present Scott's wife, Minnie, with an American flag after the services. Visiting hours were Thursday.
"He was a good man," Durkin said, adding that Scott worked to make the department more professional by encouraging officers to assist other area law enforcement officials when needed. He also noted that Scott helped officers get acquainted with the township's police station, which opened in 1979.
Retired Lt. Joe Giampietro, who worked for the department from 1970-2003, said Scott was always open to new ideas on how to improve the department, even if those ideas came from officers who were much younger than him.
"I'd go in with an idea, if he thought it'd fly, he'd run with it," Giampietro said.
Both Police Lt. Bryan Kloss, who began working for the department in 1977, and Township Fire Chief Andrew Frost said Scott was well-liked by those who worked for him, as well as township residents and officials. Scott volunteered as a township firefighter before he began working for the police department.
"He was first class as far as I'm concerned," Frost said. "I never heard anybody say a bad thing about him."
His background
Scott was born in 1921 in New York City and he lived in Austintown for 49 years. He started working for the police department as a dispatcher before working his way up through the ranks to patrolman, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and captain.
Township trustees appointed Scott chief in 1980 to replace John Hazlett, who had asked to return to the rank of captain.
In addition to working as a police officer, Scott also had been as a foreman for U.S. Steel Corp. for 25 years before retiring in 1978. He had served in the Canadian Army's 1st Tank Brigade in World War II.
About 250 people attended a banquet to honor Scott when he retired from the police department.
Scott is survived by his wife, four daughters, a brother, 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center Building Fund in Austintown.
hill@vindy.com