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Mill Creek MetroParks officials remember metroparks police officer who died from ALS
YOUNGSTOWN
Mill Creek MetroParks officials paid their respects to Sgt. Brian New-hard, a member of the MetroParks and Jackson Township police departments who died Wednesday after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
“It was a somber day for us,” said MetroParks police Chief Jim Willock, who spoke emotionally at Monday night’s park board meeting about Newhard, 38, a married father of three who was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease last month, just months after he was hired by the park.
“He was one of those officers who cared,” Willock said. “Whether it was someone he arrested, or a victim, or another police officer, he just went out of his way to help people.”
“He literally did not stop working until about a week before he died,” Willock said, recalling how other officers helped Newhard get into the office when the disease hindered his ability to walk.
Donations to the Newhard family can be made online at www.newhardalsfund.org or to the Newhard Family Trust at Home Savings and Loan.
In other board business, officials welcomed new development director Lorilyn Shandor and new human resources director Megan Millich to the staff.
Park officials also discussed ongoing efforts to solve water-pollution issues that in July led to the closure of park lakes after testing found elevated E. coli levels in park water.
Park staff are researching options for dredging the lakes. Board president Lou Schiavoni expressed optimism after U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, and Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, last week announced proposals that would help communities such as Youngstown upgrade their combined storm and sanitary sewer systems.
“We’re excited that we have some politicians taking interest in this,” Lou Schiavoni said. “It’s still going to be a long-term fix, but at least we have our foot in the door.”
He said park officials will meet later this month with representatives from the Mahoning County Soil and Water Conservation District to discuss the situation.