58 vie to become township police chief

Trustees will discuss the next step in filling the position Wednesday.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Two members of the township force, two Mahoning County deputy sheriffs and Cortland's police chief are among 58 people vying to be Boardman's next police chief.
"We're just delivering them to our committee to review," said Trustee Kathy Miller of the r & eacute;sum & eacute;s. "We're also going to review them ourselves." Friday was the application deadline.
Trustee Robyn Gallitto said a special meeting is set for Wednesday afternoon to discuss the next step in filling the chief's position.
Each trustee appointed a representative to a committee to help select the new police chief.
Miller named Dr. A. Bari Lateef, a retired criminal justice professor from Youngstown State University. Trustee Elaine Mancini tapped former Chief Glenn Bowers, and Gallitto picked Bob Bush, former Youngstown police chief and now an assistant Mahoning County prosecutor.
"I think it's the trustees' job to determine who gets interviewed and who doesn't," Gallitto said.
Committee's work
She said committee members will be asked to review applicants' backgrounds and make recommendations on candidates' strengths and whether they meet requirements.
The chief's spot opened when Jeffrey Patterson, who served in that capacity for more than five years, left last month to become an assistant prosecutor in the Summit County prosecutor's office.
Jerre Patterson, (no relation) acting police chief since Patterson's departure, and Donald Hawkins, a lieutenant, are the two candidates from inside the department. Patterson has been with the department since 1974. Hawkins joined in 1984.
Several local applicants
Two members of the county sheriff's department, James Lewandowski, a captain, and Gary Snyder, a detective, and Gary Mink, Cortland chief since 1983, also applied.
Trustees ran advertisements in the township Web site, Monster.com and through the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police.
The ads listed a bachelor's degree with course work in criminal justice, public administration or related fields or relevant work experience and a minimum of 14 years in law enforcement with five years in management as minimum qualifications.
It also said, however, that a master's degree and upper-level management and leadership training are preferred.