Youngstown council approves reduction in PD ranking officers

YOUNGSTOWN —Despite strong objections from leaders of the two police department unions, city council approved a reduction today in the number of ranking officers from 66 to 39 through attrition.

Council members said they’d have a safety committee meeting next Wednesday to hear from police officers about proposed changes to the legislation it adopted.

But Capt. Kenneth Centorame, president of the ranking officers’ union, and Edward Colon, head of the patrol officers’ union, said they doubted any substantive changes would be made by council at that safety committee meeting.

The two urged council to wait before voting on the policy change developed by the city’s administrative branch.

“I don’t think you should rush into anything,” Centorame said. “It’s a mistake.”

There is no time frame for the complete implementation of the plan because ranking officer positions will be phased out when those cops leave the police department.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.