SUPER TUESDAY | Monroe bests Altiere for Trumbull sheriff

WARREN

Howland Police Chief Paul Monroe says he is “overwhelmed by everything that has happened” since he began running for Trumbull County sheriff last year, including the support he got in defeating longtime incumbent sheriff Tom Altiere Tuesday in the Democratic primary.

“This campaign led me to a point where I’ve been able to look at all of the people who have come out to support me spiritually and professionally,” he said Tuesday night.

An early indication he might be successful was when he received the Trumbull County Democratic Party’s endorsement over Altiere. At the meeting, Monroe explained that he decided to run only because Altiere confided in him that he would not seek re-election.

Monroe will have no opponent in the November general election unless there is a write-in candidate.

Monroe, who has been Howland chief 13 years, ran against his former boss when Altiere decided to give up the job. Monroe stayed in the race even after Altiere changed his mind about retiring last year.

Altiere, 66, of Howland but originally from Brookfield, has been sheriff for 23 years, having also served as Howland chief from 1984 to 1993.

Monroe didn’t pull any punches in describing what he saw as “political patronage” in the hiring practices of the sheriff’s office under Altiere. Monroe said hiring under his command will focus only on qualifications.

“I’ve made no promises for who my staff will be,” Monroe said. Instead, he will form a hiring committee made up of the best people at each position such as detective, deputy and supervisor, and he will allow them to read the resumes and manage hiring. He will have veto power, though he says he has never needed to use it in Howland.

That strategy has empowered his command staff in Howland to take ownership of the department, he said.

But Altiere and Monroe both agreed that Monroe has no experience in running a jail, which is one of the chief responsibilities of a sheriff.

Monroe wants to expand the Trumbull Ashtabula Group Law Enforcement Task Force so that it has the resources and manpower across a multitude of law enforcement agencies in the county to attack the county’s drug problem.

He said he will also evaluate the jobs at the sheriff’s office to eliminate ones that are unnecessary so that additional deputies on the road.