Members honored at ceremony

The Girard police chief's son, a Youngstown officer, received an award.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Law enforcement working together can accomplish great things.
Gregory A. White, U.S. attorney for the Northern district of Ohio, made that comment Wednesday at the Mahoning Valley Chiefs of Police Association annual awards ceremony. Around 70 law-enforcement types -- local, state and federal -- attended the event at Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University.
"We honor folks today who are willing to keep our communities safe," White said. "Working together we can make a difference."
Who was honored
Girard Police Chief Frank Bigowsky, chairman of the chiefs' association, read a synopsis of each award winner's circumstances.
The U.S. Marshals Service Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force received an investigative excellence group award. Deputy U.S. Marshal Dean Michael, head of the local task force in Mahoning County, said: "It's very nice to be recognized; it lets you know it's time well spent." The task force has made around 2,250 arrests since June 2003. The unit includes local, state and federal officers.
An administrative excellence award went to Boardman Police Chief Jeff Patterson and Patrolman Dean Lysowski. They are credited for making Boardman the first police department in the Mahoning Valley to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
An investigative excellence award went to the Trumbull County Homicide Squad -- Sgt. Peter Pizzulo and Detective Michael Yannucci of the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department and Sgt. Jeff Urso and Detective Alan Sprockett of the Howland Police Department. Their cooperative efforts led to the arrest of Jermaine McKinney of Youngstown, who was charged with a double homicide that took place in Newton Township in December 2005. Two co-conspirators also were apprehended.
Girard Patrolman John Norman received a community policing award for outstanding efforts as the school resource officer/juvenile officer. One of his accomplishments was his role in establishment of a youth court that allows 11th- and 12th-graders to judge minor school infractions.
Youngstown Patrolman Frank Bigowsky and Brad DiTullio received awards for valor. The officers succeeded in the arrest of a barricaded suspect and rescue of an injured hostage in July 2005. Bigowsky is a son of Girard's police chief.
The awards committee consisted of FBI Special Agent John Kane, head of the bureau's Boardman office; Canfield Police Chief David A. Blystone; and Lt. Joseph M. Dragovich of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Before the awards were presented, there was a moment of silence in memory of Canfield Sgt. Bob Magnuson, who died in a skydiving accident last month in Geauga County.
meade@vindy.com