DiLullo’s legacy lives in local law

By John w. Goodwin jr.

DiLullo is remembered as a cop, friend and family man.

LIBERTY — Those who knew Orlando T. “Orley” DiLullo say his legacy in local law enforcement and community will live on.

DiLullo, who spent nearly 45 years serving the Mahoning Valley in various law enforcement positions, died Friday from complications of dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

His funeral will be at 9 a.m. today at the Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home in Boardman. A Mass follows at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

DiLullo, 79, was first sworn in as a deputy sheriff in Mahoning County in 1957.

He then worked in various aspects of law enforcement, culminating in a 10-year stint with Liberty Police Department where he retired as chief in 1990.

Andrew Pecchio, a retired officer and current bailiff in Girard Municipal Court, remembers DiLullo well from his days in law enforcement.

DiLullo was a captain in the sheriff’s department when Pecchio was first sworn in in 1971.

“I spent my whole career working with him for 30 years, at the sheriff’s department and then in Liberty,” said Pecchio.

“The best way to describe Orley was as an old-fashioned street cop who knew how to go out and get it done.”

Pecchio remembers DiLullo really getting it done as an agent in charge of a narcotics strike force unit, which was a statewide organization dedicated to combating illegal drug use.

Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins remembers the unit’s investigations of the early 1970s when he first met DiLullo.

He said heroin drug use was becoming a big problem then, but DiLullo methodically worked to curb use and distribution of the drug.

“He took me under his wing as a young prosecutor with the drug trafficking taking place in the four-county area,” Watkins said.

“He had the ability to take on a very serious matter, organize, dissect it and do a very good job at it.”

Watkins said his business and professional relationship with DiLullo was continuous as DiLullo went on to serve as a drug agent for the county prosecutor’s office after his retirement from 1990 to 1999.

DiLullo’s influence on the Liberty Police Department can still be seen today.

It was DiLullo who hired current police Chief Richard Tisone as a night-shift patrolman more than 21 years ago.

Tisone said DiLullo hired seven officers between 1987 and 1989, all of which are still with the township or enjoyed lengthy careers with the township before retirement.

“He was a good chief. I only got to work with him for three years, but he was a good chief, a good investigator and well respected in the law enforcement community,” he said. “I always respected his work ethic.”

It was DiLullo’s work ethic that Pecchio and Tisone say stand out the most. Pecchio said DiLullo, as chief, was not above transporting a prisoner or helping a patrolman with some other small task.

Tisone remembers a night early in his career when officers were looking for a wanted felon in the woods during a major storm and power outage.

He said DiLullo was right behind him in the woods joining the search.

Watkins, Tisone and Pecchio all agree that DiLullo will be missed for more than his work as a police officer. They said he was a friend, family man and a good father to his twin sons.

jgoodwin@vindy.com