Austintown police honor officer who was shot in the line of duty

Trustees officially hired three more police officers.

AUSTINTOWN — A patrolman who was shot while on duty was honored Monday evening.

Joe Wojciak received the Ribbon of Valor from the Austintown Police Department for chasing and helping to catch the man who shot him in the Kmart parking lot on Mahoning Avenue the morning of May 8.

Police Chief Bob Gavalier presented the award to him at the trustees meeting, which was packed with family, friends and police department colleagues.

“I accept — for all the officers and safety forces in Austintown,” Wojciak said.

The crowd in the meeting room gave him a standing ovation.

Trustees said they appreciate Wojciak’s dedication to his job.

“His attitude, demeanor never changes,” said Trustee David Ditzler.

Wojciak was sitting in his cruiser in the store parking lot around 7 a.m. when a man came up to his window to ask for directions.

The man told Wojciak to get out of the car. When he did not, the man pulled a gun and shot him in the chest. Wojciak, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was not seriously injured.

Wojciak called for help, and he and other officers caught the man suspected in the shooting on Melrose Avenue.

He has said he had it in his mind that he wanted to catch the shooter fast because children would be waiting at school bus stops at that time of the morning.

Charged in the shooting is Carlton Sims, 22, of Boardman. A motive remains a mystery.

It was supposed to be Sims’ first day of work at the Kmart. He is charged with attempted aggravated murder, and his case is pending in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Three officers hired

Trustees also hired three more patrol officers. They are Valorie Saluga, 30, of Canfield, who previously worked full time for Canfield’s police force; Chad DeBarr, 28, who worked for Canfield police part time; and Chris Pasvanis, 41, who worked full time for North Jackson police.

The three will be on probation for one year at a salary of $20.07 an hour, which increases to $21.20 once probation is over, Gavalier said. After three years, they will make the regular patrolman’s rate of $22.31 an hour, he said.

Gavalier told trustees he believes Austintown hired the best candidates, who have experience and training from other departments.

Trustees said the passage of a replacement levy for police last November made the hirings possible.