Police to increase presence around Midlothian

By Denise Dick

With increased visibility to deter crime, the director of a new library branch hopes to draw more patrons.

BOARDMAN — Several area law enforcement entities plan to take their efforts closer to where crime happens.

Township police, Youngstown police, the Mahoning County sheriff’s office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol will begin working tonight out of the First Place Bank building on Market Street at Midlothian Boulevard.

It’s part of a joint effort among the entities to increase visibility and deter crime along the Market Street corridor and surrounding area.

First Place Bank is donating the roughly 2,800-square-foot space on its second floor as well as all utilities for one year.

Township Chief Patrick Berarducci said that whether the effort continues after a year will depend on its success.

“I’ve always believed that Market Street is a main corridor in Mahoning County and we need to work together to make it one of the safest roads in Mahoning County,” said Trustee Larry Moliterno.

Robyn Gallitto, trustees chairwoman, agreed.

“We are looking forward to an active police presence at the north end of Boardman that will protect our neighborhoods and citizens,” she said. “This is an example of how several jurisdictions can pool their resources and deliver more to the citizens than we could do individually.”

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said the plan is an example of regionalization. “It makes no sense that one side of Midlothian should be more attractive than the other,” the mayor said.

Efforts to improve an area shouldn’t be hampered by jurisdictional boundaries, he said.

“As a local community bank we are always looking for ways to improve the communities we serve,” said Dominique Stoeber, executive vice president for retail for First Place Bank. “When the Boardman police proposed the idea to First Place Bank late last year as a way to anchor the neighborhood for area businesses and residents, we saw it is a win-win proposition. We are pleased to be able to assist with the redevelopment of this area.”

Carlton Sears, director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, says he’s thrilled with the plan. A $3.4 million Newport Library Branch, across the street from the bank, is under construction.

Libraries have the potential to enhance the lives of the people they serve with the services offered, Sears said. “By ensuring the comfort and safety of those who visit the library, we increase the possibility of realizing that potential.”

The new branch, with a design similar to that of the Austintown and Poland branches, could draw about 100,000 users per year, he said.

Berarducci said the idea mirrors what the city did using the Youngstown Business Incubator as a downtown anchor upon which other businesses and progress were built.

“We want to be an anchor to do the same for Boardman and the upper South Side of Youngstown,” he said. “Hopefully, the community supports us and follows.”

The law enforcement entities will work together to address what Berarducci calls quality-of-life crimes in that area. They’ll also concentrate on stopping drivers with warrants for their arrests or those who are driving with suspended licenses or expired registrations. Stopping those offenders for minor offenses may prevent more serious crimes from occurring, Berarducci said.

“We’ll start with additional patrols aimed at traffic enforcement, drug investigations and fugitive apprehension,” he said. “The new joint police office will serve as a base of operations and a visual reminder to the criminals as well as the community of our resolve.”

Lt. Chris Heverly, commander of the OSP post in Canfield, said that agency will assist in the efforts with traffic enforcement when troopers are available.

Three years ago, the township leased a building in the 5500 block of Market for five years for a police substation. In 2005, the rent was more than $20,000 per year, but the building’s owner, Fred Davis of Davis Funeral Home, last year agreed to cut the rent in half because of the township’s financial crunch.

Moliterno said that space will still be used by the township, although it hasn’t been determined by which department.

Sheriff Randall A. Wellington said the entities will concentrate within the one-mile radius surrounding the bank building.

“Increased numbers help with visibility and crime deterrence more than just a couple of cruisers,” he said.