ColucciSFlbto take chief’s post

By Elise Franco

The newly named police chief said he wouldn’t be where he is today without the support of family and colleagues.

CANFIELD — The city has chosen one of its own to take over when police Chief David Blystone retires at the end of the month.

Sgt. Chuck Colucci III, 36, has been named the next Canfield chief of police and will be sworn in April 1.

Colucci, a 13-year veteran of the force, said he intends to run the department with the same degree of quality as his predecessor.

“I’m looking forward to upholding the legacy that the current chief and city manager have built,” he said. “These are the two people who have paved the road for making Canfield the city that it is.”

Besides Colucci, only one other person applied for the position, and city Manager Chuck Tieche said that applicant didn’t meet qualification standards.

Colucci said he paid no attention to the lack of applicants for the position.

“The number of applicants didn’t faze me. The standards were high, and I appreciate that and respect that also,” he said. “The most important thing was doing whatever it takes to make sure I put myself in the position to be the best applicant for that job.”

Tieche said Canfield operates differently from some other area departments during the hiring process, but for good reason.

Officers are required to have a bachelor’s degree, and higher education is widely promoted within the department, he said.

“We were looking for someone who has a master’s degree,” he said. “We’ve promoted the idea of advanced degrees because we see that as a value to the community.”

Colucci will have an annual base salary of $66,599.

Colucci graduated from Youngstown State University in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. In 2001, he obtained his master’s in police administration from YSU.

He said he always intended to become a police officer, but he never imagined having the chief-of- police title attached to his name.

“I originally wanted to be an Ohio state trooper, but in the early ’90s there was a hiring freeze, which is when I got the job with Canfield,” Colucci said.

Just three years after joining the force in 1996, Colucci was promoted to sergeant. In 2006, he was named assistant chief.

“I had never envisioned becoming a sergeant or assistant chief, and now I am the chief,” he said. “I just knew I was going into the job giving everything I have. It just happened over time, and I attribute that to the people I work with.”

Colucci said he will make the new title of chief about those around him, who have supported him along the way, especially his parents, Chuck Colucci II and Karen Colucci.

“I was excited for my family, because they’ve been with me every step of the way,” he said. “I attribute my success to the morals and values that my parents instilled in me.”

Blystone said Colucci’s mother has since passed away, but his father resides in Boardman.

As chief, Colucci said he plans to be as selfless as possible.

“It’s about the employees at the Canfield Police Department and making it an exciting yet challenging work environment,” he said. “It’s about the city of Canfield residents and making sure they have a sense of security in their homes and neighborhoods.”

Blystone, who has been police chief for 17 of his 26 years on the force, said he’s confident in his colleague’s ability to take over.

“As a police officer, Chuck is a person of tremendous talent, and also as a leader, he’s shown he’s able to be effective for our agency,” he said. “I think he’s well-prepared for the challenge that he’s going to face as police chief.”

Blystone said the entire department is happy about the decision and is doing everything possible to help him into his new role.

“We’re advising him of the areas that he’s going to have to deal with being chief,” he said. “We’re a small town and a small department, and the transition isn’t going to be at all that difficult.”

Blystone said above all else, Colucci’s drive to make Canfield better will help him succeed.

“He’s one of the hardest-working guys I’ve ever met,” he said. “Just that alone will make everything else all right.”

Maintaining quality of the department and thinking ahead will be Colucci’s main focuses. He said it’s important to have a vision of the future and prepare for challenges that may come with that vision.

“That’s what keeps me excited about walking through those doors — that we get to make those types of decisions that will effect where the department and the city will be in the next 10 years,” Colucci said. “It’s an exciting opportunity to make an impact on where we’ll be in the future.”

efranco@vindy.com