Law enforcers honored for service
Prosecutor Dennis Watkins talked about how good police work can solve cold cases.
staff report
YOUNGSTOWN — They dismantled burglary rings, tracked down violent intruders, solved a turnpike murder, seized marijuana and one chased a suspect after being shot.
For efforts “above and beyond the call of duty,” 11 law enforcement officers from eight agencies were honored with plaques Wednesday at Youngstown State University’s Kilcawley Center. The event was the annual Mahoning Valley Chiefs of Police Association awards luncheon, attended by roughly 100.
Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins, guest speaker, talked about the benefits of good police work and how attention to detail solves cases, including cold cases years after evidence is collected. In this age of TV shows such as “CSI,” jurors, he said, want it all — DNA, fingerprints and so forth.
Valor, investigative excellence and distinguished service awards were handed out Wednesday. FBI Special Agent John Kane, former agent-in-charge at the bureau’s Boardman office, received a special recognition award. Girard Police Chief Frank Bigowsky and Springfield Chief Matt Mohn were recognized for their service as past chairmen of the chiefs’ association.
Austintown Police Chief Bob Gavalier and Howland Chief Paul Monroe presented the awards, reading a short synopsis for each.
The award for valor — “bravery under fire” — went to Austintown Patrolman Joe Wojciak, who was shot a year ago in a Kmart parking lot. Wojciak, despite his injury, pursued the suspect on foot out of concern for the safety of residents and school children in the area, Monroe said.
Gavalier presented investigative excellence awards to Canfield Detective Sgt. Andrew Bodzak, Warren Detective Jeff Hoolihan and Special Agent Jim Ciotti of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. Ciotti compiled data on a string of burglaries and drafted a proposal to form a task force that was approved in December 2006.
A little more than a year later, four separate organizations were dismantled, nearly 30 people indicted or arrested and $380,000 worth of stolen property recovered. In all, more than 150 commercial burglaries were solved.
Investigative excellence awards also went to Detective Michael Tablack and Patrolmen Danny T. Beniston and Costandino G. Lolakis of the Springfield Township Police Department. Acting on a tip, they developed information that led to a large marijuana growing operation on South Range Road. Aside from 80 plants, the officers seized shotguns, handguns, an assault rifle and multi-round magazines.
Gavalier presented Youngstown Lt. Robin Lees, commander of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force since 2006, with a distinguished service award for his handling of the multijurisdictional task force that includes local, state and federal agencies. Gavalier said Lees has been highly effective in accomplishing the task force’s missions, which include drug and gang enforcement, crisis response, homeland security and fugitive apprehension.
Also, Lees took the initiative to pursue new funding sources from the Ohio General Assembly and worked with U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, to obtain federal funding.
Howland Detectives Alan Sprockett and Nicholas Roberts solved a vicious home invasion that left the victim permanently disfigured in October 2007. With an eye for detail, the detectives collected a receipt in the suspects’ driveway that led them to video evidence of three men buying ski masks, knives, gloves and cable ties just hours before the crime. The three men are awaiting trial.
Gerald Funelli, now retired as a sergeant from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, took home a plaque for investigative excellence for his part in solving the May 2005 shooting death of Dr. Gulam Moonda on the Ohio Turnpike. The investigation, which included Sgt. Dennis Goodhart, into the Hermitage, Pa., doctor’s death lasted more than two years and involved 20 local, state and federal agencies.
Funelli’s tenacity, attention to detail, strong work ethic and extraordinary effort solved the homicide, Monroe said. The doctor’s wife and her lover were convicted.