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New leaders already making plans
YOUNGSTOWN
It’s the first day at their new jobs, but Police Chief Rod Foley and Law Director Anthony Farris already have plans for their departments.
Foley, the former chief of detectives, said he will move some officers from special units and put them on patrol.
“We need to reduce our response time and increase our visibility,” Foley said Wednesday. “Taking some officers off of special units and putting them on patrol hurts a little because [the units] do important work. But we need people out on patrol.”
Foley and Farris will be sworn in to their new jobs at 9 a.m. today in city council chambers.
Foley replaces Jimmy Hughes, a 34-year veteran of the force including the past 51/2 years as chief.
“I spent a long time in the police department; it’s embedded in me,” Hughes said. “It’s such a part of me. How do you get rid of that? It’s hard.”
Hughes said he may look for another job in law enforcement after a little break.
Foley said he plans to name a new chief of detectives in the next one to two weeks.
Police Patrolman Sam Mosca, president of the Youngstown Police Association union that represents patrol officers in the city, praised new Mayor Charles Sammarone for selecting Foley as chief.
“The sentiment of our union is cautious optimism with optimism being the key phrase because optimism at the department has been gone for a while,” Mosca said.
The union supports Foley’s plan to restructure the department to increase the number of officers on patrol, Mosca said.
“Our union believes change is necessary and restructuring is needed,” he said.
Wednesday was also the last day on the job for Iris Torres Guglucello, who worked for the city for 131/2 years, including the past 61/2 years as law director.
She said she’ll miss the job and her co-workers but is looking forward to her retirement.
Guglucello will be missed, Farris said.
But he’s “very eager to get going.”
Farris is hiring Anthony Donofrio, deputy general counsel for B.J. Alan Fireworks, as a deputy law director, effective Sept. 19.
Also, Rebecca Gerson starts Tuesday as a part-time deputy law director. She will maintain her private practice.