Community police unit hears from several agencies

YOUNGSTOWN — The police department’s Community Police Unit heard from several agencies today so officers can have a better understanding of how they can connect people in their wards to needed services.

Among those who spoke at the unit’s headquarters at the former fire station at Mahoning and Eleanor avenues was city Prosecutor Dana Lantz; Guy Burney. director of the Community Initiative To Reduce Violence; the social worker for the department’s Family Investigative Services Unit, which investigates cases involving juveniles or families; and Dianne Fry, Mahoning County dog warden.

Detective Sgt. Pat Kelly, the unit’s supervisor, said he wants members of the unit to know not only how to connect residents to services, but also to pass the word to have some of those agencies call community police to take care of certain neighborhood problems, rather than tie up a patrol car.

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