Warren names 1st woman captain

By Ed Runyan

The new captain looks forward to possibly having grant money to improve community policing.

WARREN — Janice Gilmore, the fourth member of her family to serve as a Warren police officer, has been named the first woman captain in Warren police history.

As captain of the patrol division, she supervises 43 patrolmen, sergeants and lieutenants and two K-9 units. The two other captains supervise the support staff and detectives.

Gilmore, 46, replaces Michael Vugrincic, who retired in January.

Gilmore is a 19-year veteran of the department, having last served as lieutenant over the patrol division’s second shift.

Other promotions resulting from Gilmore’s selection include Sgt. Eric Merkel, promoted to lieutenant over the second shift; and patrolman Emmanuel Nites, promoted to sergeant on the midnight shift.

Merkel, 39, has worked for the department for 13 years; and Nites, 42, has worked for the department 18 years.

Gilmore’s father, Larry Gilmore Sr., retired from the department as a sergeant; her grandfather Allen Gilmore served as a patrolman; and her great-uncle John Gilmore retired as a lieutenant.

As she looks forward to her duties as a captain, Janice Gilmore said she hoped the city will qualify for the U.S. Department of Justice Weed and Seed program, for which it will apply this fall, because such community policing is just what the city needs to restore the public’s confidence in the city and in its police department.

She described the program as getting police officers “involved in the neighborhoods to remove the bad elements and re-seed it with positive changes, which will reduce calls for service and make it a more positive place to live.”

Among the items she hopes the department could restore with the money are foot and bicycle patrols, she said.

The grant would be for up to $1 million over a five-year period to “weed out” violent criminals or drug abusers and “seed” the area to ensure long-term change, according to information provided by the Youngstown State University Center for Human Services Development, which will prepare the city’s application.

The grant would be for parts of the city in which 31 percent of the worst crimes have been committed over the last three years: areas bounded to the north by West Market, McMyler, Summit, Depot and Dana streets, and to the east by Elm Road, South Street and Tod Avenue. Nearly all of the southwest parts of the city would be included.

runyan@vindy.com