Craig Beach police chief seeks money to expand force

The sheriff’s department has been handling much of the
village’s police work.

BY ANGIE SCHMITT

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

CRAIG BEACH — The village is continuing efforts to expand the capacity of its police department after hiring an additional part-time officer and two volunteer officers earlier this summer.

Chief Jason Brown has asked village council members for an additional $10,000 to double the department’s payable work hours from 20 to 40. He is also asking for village assistance with about $3,000 in equipment.

Brown, who came on as chief in July 2006, said the additional spending is imperative to improve the effectiveness of the department, which he said was not known for its productivity before his arrival.

He said paying the volunteer officers would prevent the department from becoming “a revolving door.” Brown proposes an hourly rate of $8.

“It’s going to be an investment, but it’s going to enable us to get these guys out to protect the community,” he said.

Brown said the department has stretched its current budget with donations and grants. It recently received a donated 2002 Ford Crown Victoria to use as a cruiser, its second. Grants also have provided the department with two new bulletproof vests and a shotgun, he said. In addition, Brown divided his weekly hours with Lt. Jeffrey Myers when Myers joined the squad in August, he said.

Seeing a change

“We have come to the point where some assistance is needed to propel us over the hurdle we currently face,” he said. “We are starting to see a new Craig Beach police department. The previous image took years to obtain. Correcting it will take time, too.”

The department recently held its first operating-a-vehicle-impaired checkpoint and is attempting to organize block watches throughout the village, he said.

Glenn Kountz, a Mahoning County deputy sheriff, attended the meeting on behalf of the county. Kountz said the sheriff’s department, which has been handling a majority of the village’s emergency calls, is eager to see the department develop.

“We are definitely out here quite a bit,” he said.

The biggest crime problems in the village of about 1,250 are juvenile issues and other disputes such as domestic violence, said Brown.

Kountz offered the village assistance in its effort to reorganize and expand.

Councilwoman Wanda Sabol said she was excited about the new hires, but the village’s budget would determine whether Brown’s requests could be granted, especially the personnel increases.

Sabol and Mayor Larry Ellis said they would discuss the proposal with the village’s finance director and the full council at the Oct. 9 council meeting.