Former sheriff Ed Nemeth dead at 62

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

milliken@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Former three-term Sheriff Edward P. Nemeth, who presided over the opening of the Mahoning County Justice Center during his final year in office, died of cancer at 5:35 p.m. Wednesday in Hospice House in North Lima.

Nemeth, who resided in Boardman, was 62.

The opening of the new $32 million electronically-controlled county justice center, which tripled the county’s jail capacity, was the crown jewel in Nemeth’s law enforcement career.

“He was the first sheriff to bring true professionalism to the office and brought the department from an organization of 65 employees to 265 by the time he left office,” said Maj. James Lewandowski of the sheriff’s office.

“He built two new jails and negotiated the first labor contract with the department’s employees,” Lewandowski said, referring to the minimum security jail on Commerce Street, which opened in 1994, and the main Fifth Avenue justice center, which opened in March 1996.

“As a lieutenant in the department, he was a charter member and organizer and, in fact was the first president, bringing the FOP Lodge into the sheriff’s department,” and improving the pay and benefits of deputies, Lewandowski said.

He was a graduate of Ursuline High School and Youngstown State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

The future sheriff, a son of city detective Emil Nemeth.

was a security guard at Wilkoff Steel in Youngstown before becoming a deputy sheriff in March 1970.

For the complete obituary and arrangements, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com