Boardman police turn to local airwaves

A man wanted on a
warrant from 2005 saw his photo on the station and turned himself in.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — Township police are taking crime fighting to the airwaves.

Last spring, Detective Charles Mound started working with the Boardman Schools Television Network to broadcast information about crime trends, prevention tips and wanted individuals on the channel.

BSTN can be seen on Armstrong Cable Channel 19 and digital Channel 204.

“Everybody watches TV,” the detective said.

Mound brings the information to the station, housed at Boardman High School, and volunteers Sue Bissell, BSTN coordinator, Allen Butcher, TV program support technician, and students Mark D’Apolito, 19, and Heather VacLav, 17, get it on the air.

Through Channel 19, information can be conveyed to help people avoid becoming victims, watch out for potential criminals and even bust some bad guys.

They call it the Boardman Crime Information Network, and it’s working so far.

Last month, a man wanted on a warrant from a 2005 felony tampering with records case saw his picture on the channel and turned himself in.

Gratifying work

That’s pretty gratifying to those involved.

“It makes me think that our channel can convey a message to people and it really serves a purpose,” said VacLav, who will be a senior this year.

D’Apolito, who graduated from Boardman High in June and plans to major in political science at the University of Toledo, agreed.

“I was happy to see that as a school TV station, we can give back to the community,” said D’Apolito. “We really do have a purpose and can accomplish something good.”

For the past several years, the township has given between $35,000 and $40,000 annually to the station. This year, because of the township’s financial situation, there was no township contribution to BSTN.

The township provides funding to the station each year. The photos appear at 11 a.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. The station’s software prohibits more frequent showings. The crime prevention tips and descriptions of crime trends occurring in the community run more often.

Mound would like someone in the community to donate to the station to underwrite a software upgrade that will allow more airings of the pictures.

Most of the crimes referred to on the channel aren’t violent, but there are multiple victims.

Information broadcast

Information broadcast currently warns of a suspected home improvement scam preying on residents.

The perpetrator tells the resident they need a home repair, requests and takes a deposit for the work and doesn’t come back. The information started running a few weeks back and although a suspect hasn’t been arrested, there haven’t been any new reports that he’s struck again either, Mound said.

The photographs may be either police mug shots or recent Department of Motor Vehicle license pictures for those who are wanted on warrants.

Others may be people wanted for questioning like someone suspected of a crime whose picture is captured on a store surveillance camera. It asks people with information about the individual to contact police.

Crime prevention tips offer information such as how to make your home look occupied when you go on vacation and safety tips for staying in a hotel.

During Christmas season, Mound plans to suggest shopping tips through the channel.

“It’s relatively minor crime, but if you’ve lived in Boardman your whole life and you’re victimized even one time, it may be the most traumatic thing you have to deal with,” the detective said.