Community police unit names its members

YOUNGSTOWN — Police Chief Robin Lees expects the department’s new Community Police Unit to begin operations Monday.

The unit was to begin work this week, but the start was delayed because several new hires who will be replacing patrol officers staffing the new unit are undergoing Crisis Intervention training with the Mahoning County Mental Health Board. That training was expected to be completed this week.

Lees said, however, officers who are assigned to the new unit will be attending community events this week if their schedule allows.

The new unit will feature one officer assigned exclusively to each of the city’s seven wards. The idea is to have a “go-to person” for residents and community groups and have that officer focus their priorities specifically on their ward rather than answering calls on a patrol beat.

Additionally, the seven officers who will make up the new unit have also been selected. They are Joe Moran for the 1st Ward; Jose Morales Jr. in the 2nd Ward; Barbara Copeland in the 3rd Ward; Melvin Johnson in the 4th Ward; George Wallace in the 5th Ward; Shawna Cie-Ott in the 6th Ward; and Phillip Skowron, in the 7th Ward.

The unit supervisor is Detective Sgt. Pat Kelly.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com