MILESTONES


MILESTONES

STATE PATROL

Promotions

Four men with Mahoning Valley ties have been promoted to higher ranks in the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

They are Michael J. Marucci, Nakia J. Hendrix, Lawrence Sprockett and Patrick Abel.

Marucci was promoted to the rank of staff lieutenant. He will transfer from his current assignment as commander of the Ravenna Post to serve as assistant commander of the Warren District.

Marucci joined the patrol in March 1987 as a cadet dispatcher at the Warren Post. He earned his commission in November 1989 and was assigned to the Milan Post. As a trooper, he also served at the Warren and Canfield posts.

In 1996 and 1997, he was selected as post Trooper of the Year, and in 1997, he also was selected as District Trooper of the Year. In 1998, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and transferred to the Lisbon Post to serve as an assistant post commander. As a sergeant, he also served at the Toledo and Warren posts. In 2004, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Marucci earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Youngstown State University in 1996. He also completed the Administrative Officers Course at the Southern Police Institute in 2006.

He lives in Salem with his wife, Lisa. They have two children; Samantha, 18, and Alexis, 15.

Sgt. Hendrix was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He will transfer from his current assignment as an assistant post commander at the Warren Post to serve as the Ravenna Post commander.

Hendrix began his patrol career in February 1999. He earned his commission in July of that year and was assigned to the Wooster Post. During his career, he also served at the Canton, Hiram and Warren posts, as well as at the training academy. In 2005, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and transferred to the Ashtabula Post to serve as an assistant post commander.

As a sergeant, he has also served at the Hiram and Canfield posts before transferring to his most recent assignment in June 2011.

Hendrix earned an associate of applied science degree in police science from YSU in 1996.

He lives in Hubbard with his wife, Wendy, and their three children, Whitney, 9, Nikolas, 7, and Daphne, 5.

Trooper Sprockett was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He will transfer from his current assignment at the Hiram Post to serve as an assistant post commander at the Chardon Post.

Sprockett began his patrol career in February 1997 and earned his commission in July of that year. He and was assigned to the Hiram Post, where he was selected as post Trooper of the Year in 2003.

Sprockett earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from YSU in 2002.

He lives in Cortland with his wife, Danielle, and their three children, Kaitlin, 12, Alexander, 10, and Abigal, 7.

Trooper Abel was promoted to the rank of sergeant. Abel will transfer from his current assignment at the Ravenna Post to serve as an assistant post commander at the Hiram Post.

Abel began his patrol career in October 1998. He earned his commission in April 1999 and was assigned to the Sandusky Post.

In 2000, he transferred to the Hiram Post, where he earned the Ace Award for excellence in auto-larceny enforcement in 2004, 2005 and 2008. In March 2008, he transferred to his most recent assignment at the Ravenna Post

Abel lives in Warren with his wife, Kathleen, and their two children, Justin, 8, and Kaylee, 7.

Milestones is a regular Sunday feature in The Vindicator. Articles must be submitted within 30 days of the Milestone event. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you want a picture returned. Pictures also may be picked up at the paper’s Front Street facility at the security guard station. Send items to: Milestones, c/o The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501.