New police chief outlines plans for his department

Gavalier said a priority will be a review of the procedure manual.
By JEANNE STARMACK
vindicator staff writer
AUSTINTOWN -- The township's new police chief was still feeling his way around last week, his first one on the job.
Robert Gavalier, formerly a lieutenant with the township police department, started immediately after trustees chose him out of four final candidates Dec. 3. Eight candidates had competed for the $65,749-a-year post.
In the chief's office at the department on Ohltown Road, it still seemed like Lt. Bryan Kloss, interim chief, would step through the door at any time. But Kloss, who didn't seek the job on a permanent basis, is back on the road after stepping in when previous chief Gordon Ellis left in June.
Gavalier, 47, a lifelong township resident who's been with the department since 1982, took time out to highlight his plans for the department.
He said he's seeing his new job as a challenge, moving from supervisor on an afternoon shift to overseeing the department of 37 full-time officers and detectives.
He said one of his priorities will be a review of the department's policy, procedure and general orders manual to "make sure it's applicable to today's laws."
"It guides the thinking and action of the police department," he said.
Regionalization
He also said he's well aware of budget constraints, and is watching with interest the idea of regionalization for local police departments.
"I feel it's something we have to look at. It will take a couple of years. Jay Williams [Youngstown's mayor-elect] said you have to take small steps. It would take a long time to merge everyone, with roadblocks here and there."
Meanwhile, he said, another priority is training for the department.
"Our most important resources are our people," he said.
"I'd like to look at training that deals with day-to-day job assignments, not for something they don't do every day."
Gavalier said that as far as crime is concerned, he doesn't see much in the way of major offenses in the township. He said that crime goes in cycles -- for example, a recent rise in burglaries and thefts from cars during the holiday season.
Department practices
He said the department has begun direct patrolling, which means assigning officers where there is more crime.
He said he started direct patrolling on his shift when he was a lieutenant, and then the entire department began it under Kloss.
He said the department also attempts community education through its Crime Watch program. He said there are meetings periodically that the public is invited to, and the program offers crime-prevention tips.
Gavalier started out in the department as an auxiliary patrolman. He was hired full time in 1987.
He was promoted to sergeant in 1995, and in 2001 he was promoted to lieutenant.
He and his wife, Lori, have a son, Ryan, 6.