Pubdate: Sun, 25 Feb 2007 Source: Tribune Chronicle, The (OH) Copyright: 2007 Tribune Chronicle Contact: http://www.tribune-chronicle.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1436 Author: Marly Kosinski, Tribune Chronicle Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) MORE OFFICERS SOUGHT IN VIENNA VIENNA -- Police Chief David Ovesny said the gap is widening between the level of service the public expects and his department's capabilities. That's why he is offering trustees some solutions on how to make the department more efficient and make the community safer. "It all comes down to efficiency. We can't just have good community policing. We also need investigative capabilities. The grim reality is that we're only as effective as the cases we clear. What good is 24-hour police coverage if we can't solve the crimes we respond to," he said. Ovesny did an internal assessment of the department as part of his 2006 annual report. He said he did not intend the assessment to be a criticism of the department or township trustees, but said he felt obligated to draw attention to the department's shortcomings in an effort to strengthen it. He said the department is heading into its third year of providing 24-hour patrols, a move that happened in March 2005, after several businesses were burglarized when part-time officers were off-duty. Ovesny said, according to statistics kept by the Trumbull911 Center, the township's overall crime rate has increased over the past three years. And although some categories have held steady or decreased in that time period, some -- including thefts, criminal damaging, harassment and criminal damaging -- have increased. The largest increase was in the number of calls for suspicious vehicles: from 98 in 2004 and 195 in 2005 to 247 in 2006. Ovesny said that jump is largely the result of the Vienna Neighborhood Watch, which celebrated its fourth anniversary last month. Neighborhood Watch President Roseann Kennedy said she thinks the police department does a good job responding to calls. She also said her organization has done a good job promoting safety to the community by encouraging residents to call 911 if they see a suspicious vehicle or activity. "It does make a difference to have an officer on the street 24/7," she said. Kennedy said the township has three major highways -- state Routes 11, 82 and 193 -- running through it, with a lot of people travel through Vienna on their way to somewhere else. She said it is her belief many of the crimes being committed are by people just passing through, but she recognizes there is a need for a greater police presence. "Our township is growing, and I think the police department should grow with it," she said. Ovesny said the department's only full-time officer is Brian Darbey and he works during the day. He said Darbey spends most of his time responding to 911 calls, leaving little time for evidence gathering or investigative follow-up. "When the priority is 911 calls, we can't focus on other stuff," he said. His solution is to hire an additional full-time officer for patrol duties and reassign Darbey to investigations and follow-up. He said Darbey also will become the department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer if the township's grant is approved. Ovesny said there are 12 active part-time officers, but most of them have full-time jobs with other departments, which makes scheduling a challenge. In addition, many officers use Vienna as a training ground for other jobs, which Ovesny said does not provide enough consistency to make the part-time officers effective. "We lose officers to full-time departments all the time. I don't mind, and I am happy they move on, but then I have to start from scratch training new ones. It's hard to maintain department stability that way," he said. Ovesny said replacing Darbey with a part-time or full-time officer on day shift and assigning Darbey to investigations and the DARE program would cost approximately $23,000 with salary and benefits. He said if the township gets the DARE grant to help pay for Darbey's salary, and the Mathews Local School District also contributes to the cost, the allocated funds could pay for another officer. He said two other options exist: creating a police district through a merger with a neighboring department such as Liberty or Brookfield, or disbanding the Vienna Police Department and contracting with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office for patrols. Ovesny said creating a special police district would require a feasibility study to determine the costs, benefits and drawbacks. Trustees Heidi Brown and Phil Pegg said they are working on the staffing issues and plan to start the DARE program in the fall as long as the grant is approved. Brown said the township also is considering arming officers with Tasers to provide them with a non-lethal weapon for increased safety. She said if Vienna gets the DARE grant, it would provide $16,000 for a full-time officer and $8,000 for a part-time one. She said the school district would contribute some funds as well, and trustees also would seek funds from Fowler since Neal Middle School is located there. Brown said trustees don't really have a Plan B if the DARE funding falls through, but said Ovesny's latter two options have not even been discussed. Ovesny said whatever the solution is, he knows nothing will happen overnight. "I am not trying to create animosity with the trustees. I am just trying to give them my assessment so they know what direction to take. If I don't put this information out there, it's my fault if nothing is done," he said. "Saving money can't come second to the safety of my officers and the community." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek