Warren police struggle to keep ahead of chaos
By DARCIE LORENO Tribune ChronicleFact Box
Worker concessions
- There is a meeting on Warren city employee concession talks scheduled for this morning among city administrators, union representatives from AFSCME Local 2501 and AFSCME Local 74. Mayor Michael J. O'Brien said the administration is scheduling talks with the various unions as time allows, but nothing else was scheduled as of Monday afternoon.
- Warren officials said the layoff of police officer positions effective Sunday dropped from five to four after the city received word of funding from a state Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. Officials said the grant came in at about $34,000. Originally, five officers were to be among 16 city employees laid off in the most recent wave.
WARREN - The police department's first day after the city's most recent round of layoffs was a busy one.
With four fewer officers in the department, vacations and the busy summer season in swing, officers requested help from neighboring departments and were backed up in five to six calls at one point during an unusually busy and small-staffed afternoon shift.
''Between 5 and 9 p.m., that's when everything just kind of broke,'' said Sgt. Daniel Mason, who said himself and two officers were on patrol during the afternoon shift. ''Yesterday was just one of those days that's extremely rare, when you're working that short.''
The department is down about two-dozen officers from last year after the layoffs of 20 in January and another four Sunday. The latest were part of 15 layoffs meant to help trim a $1.5 million deficit and which city officials warned of if unions did not agree to concessions. Along with the layoffs, the department's narcotics unit has temporarily been suspended, and three detectives and a traffic investigator sent to patrol duties.
Lately, said Mason, shifts vary day to day with vacations and sick leave on top of the layoffs. During Monday's afternoon shift, for example, he said, five were on patrol with a sergeant and a lieutenant on station. Sunday, Mason, who was working as turn commander, said three were available for patrol.
One of the busiest times was around 9 p.m. Sunday, when police were called to Woodbine Avenue S.E. to reports of a fight involving more than 50 people. At the time, said police, Woodbine and Homewood avenues were closed for a block party, involving a car show and attended by hundreds.
A handful of calls came in to police, one reporting a shot fired.
A crowd was leaving Pit Stop and created a nuisance, fighting, revving motors and driving recklessly, said reports. Officer Jeff Hoolihan was boxed in by the other drivers and called for back-up. Howland and Trumbull County Sheriff's deputies responded as mutual aid and the crowd dispersed. The crowd, mostly juveniles, carried their antics to other areas of the city, Mason said, but during the incident, calls backed up as officers were tied up in that neighborhood.
Mutual aid is called occasionally, and generally on the low-staffed midnight shift, Mason said.
''I was very concerned about my safety,'' Hoolihan said. ''It's totally reactive now. The proactiveness is over. Now we're just cleaning up the mess and cleaning up the pieces.''
A man was shot in the leg about 2 a.m. Monday at Powerhouse Bar, a pizza delivery woman was robbed at gunpoint at Hampshire House apartments and a Warren man was robbed in front of a home on Robert Street N.W.
There were also a rash of shed break-is over the weekend, said police, and just Sunday, seven burglaries were reported in homes, sheds and cars.
A resident on Genesee Avenue N.E. told police Saturday someone broke into a shed in his backyard and took a $600 leaf vacuum. Friday, a Mahoning Avenue N.W. resident told police someone entered a garage, ransacked it and took a weed trimmer, leaf blower and two gas cans.
With the lower manpower, Mason said those are the types of calls that will fall lower on the priority list for police. During busy times, residents with calls that aren't considered urgent will have to make a report at the department or consult with a prosecutor themselves.
''We're not going to get tied up on a car broken into, the theft of an item,'' he said. ''If it's nothing urgent or life-threatening ... and there's no suspect or crime in progress. If nothing else is going on ... we will send them.''
Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin said the traffic has caused some concern, but it could be solved with concessions.
''Obviously, I'm concerned about citizens being able to have a response for services in a timely fashion and I'm also concerned about the safety of our police officers. We could solve a lot of problems with a concessions package. That could put people back on the streets.''
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smokey
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06-24-09 4:30 PM
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purple51- why thank you!
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purple51
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06-24-09 11:11 AM
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Must be why Warren4504 SHOUTS all the time. Good points Smokey and congrats on solving your garage problem.
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smokey
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06-23-09 11:24 PM
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and why would the city of warren give a permit for a block party if they don't have the officers to controll it??? duhhhhhhh!!
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smokey
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06-23-09 11:22 PM
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debbiedvldog- now tell us how you really feel,,, and how do you feel as far as anorexic,??
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smokey
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06-23-09 11:18 PM
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WOW!
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davesavage
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06-23-09 9:10 PM
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WARREN4504 IS A 16 YEAR OLD KID BTW.
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smokey
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06-23-09 8:49 PM
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FIRST OF ALL wheres the mayor,franklin,council and all the other high salarys concessions?? I don't call 5% cut a concession, the should lead take a "considerable" paycut until the crisis is over.bring back safety forces I pray for the officers that are still on staff lord knows their beig worked like dogs!! shut down the rest of the city 2-3 days a week to save money city hall, parks whatever is needed to bring officers back. this situation is retarded!! 'Obviously, I'm concerned about citizens being able to have a response for services pffffffffft if your sooooooooo concerned take a paycut!! put back into the safety forces , ughhhhhhhh!!! all i can say is ccw permit.. someone was in my garage over the weekend i didn't even make a report something about cocking a pistol seem to have changed their mind!!
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midname
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06-23-09 5:35 PM
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I SIT BACK AND LOOK AT THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN WARREN WAS BOOMING,,ALL KINDS OF EXCITEMENT GOING ON.SLOT MACHINES,ALL KIND OF MONEY GAMES BINGO,NUMBERS,RED LIGHT AREAS,,BOOZE BARS,WARREN WAS CALLED THEN LITTLE CHICAGO!EVERY ONE GOT ALONG FINE. AND NO HIGH TAXES.AND GASOLINE .18CENTS A GALLON.WHEEEEE!
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Mobboss
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06-23-09 4:24 PM
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In most of America, their are County police who patrol the entire county. They scrap overhead positions ( like Chief of Police that Warren, Niles, etc. have ) and spend that money on more police saleries, cars, and equipment. X number of cop cars cover the area based on population in the county. That WOULD NEVER PASS IN WARREN-- too many overhead jobs would be cut -- and we can't have THAT !!
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LieutenantDrone
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06-23-09 1:26 PM
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Those other communities that assisted should send the city a bill. Not only do they still have to pay their officers while on duty, they also potentially left their own communities at risk by instructing their officers to leave their jurisdiction and assist elsewhere. And beside, Warren wants to start billing 'criminals' for various tasks, i.e. paperwork for processing certain crimes and the other items they were proposing, so the other communities should do the same by billing Warren, lol. (-:
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WhatTheH
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06-23-09 12:34 PM
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So, when are the concession packages of all of the people running the city get published in the paper like the one published for the conessions of the fireman. , ie - all of the Directors of all of the city departments, Safety- Service Director Doug Franklin, Mayor O'B, the Fire Chief who is not part of the fireman union's concessions and all of the other city officials????? When will that happen for all to see??? Their concessions should meet or exceed the concession package agreed to by the Fireman. Will that ever happen. Probably not. That's to easy. They will demand it from others because they can but they will not step up because they just don't have to because they are holding all of the cards.
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WARREN4504
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06-23-09 11:27 AM
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BOBCVENGROS -- YOU SAID THE POLICE SHOULD MULTI-TASK ?? AT WHAT ?? DIDN'T YOU JUST READ THE ARTICLE? THEY WERE BACKED UP BY 6 MAJOR CALLS-- THEY HAD TO CALL FOR HELP FROM OTHER DEPTS. YOU NEED TO STOP POSTING ON HERE YOUR POINTS ARE POINTLESS. SLAVE2BEER -- DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE CITY WAS TO PAY FOR THE SHERIFFS DEPT, THAT DOSEN'T MEAN THERE WILL BE A DEPUTY IN WARREN ALL THE TIME -- THEY MIGHT HAVE TO LEAVE WARREN TO GO ANSWER A CALL IN KINSMAN OR NEWTON TWP. EVERYBODY BETTER THINK TWICE BEFORE THEY THINK THE SHERIFFS DEPT IS THE BETTER CHOICE.
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Mnich82266
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06-23-09 11:22 AM
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Obituaries: .... Warren, Ohio 1801 - 2009
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BankerTn
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06-23-09 10:46 AM
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SURV69...you are absolutely correct
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purple51
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06-23-09 9:56 AM
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Probably meant Genesee. I want to know where Mashing Avenue NW is.
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Slave2Beer
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06-23-09 8:30 AM
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$75k = 2 trained police officers on the beat for one year. OR $75k = plenty of help from the sheriffs department for one year... Enjoy the skate park..
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anniemae
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06-23-09 8:27 AM
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All this on the 1st day!!!! OMG, this is just the beginning to an end. Obviously, protection is only an OPTION in Warren...not a neccesity. Get rid of some dead wood (overpaid & underworked) & put cops back on the road to protect this town. Get rid of the rif-raf, as well. Shoot first, take names second. Let these men in uniform do their job. I'm sure the sale of guns is going up.
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SURV69
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06-23-09 8:21 AM
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Warren's problems didn't begin in the past 10, 20 or 30 years. The problems probably began 50 or more years ago, when things were "good", money was rolling around and no one gave any real consideration to the future. This area has never been known for forward-thinking politicians and as I see it, therein lies the real problem. This area might be dying fast but the slow death has been very long in coming.
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daddywags
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06-23-09 7:48 AM
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Warren Police - do the best you can and may GOD ride with you
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Thinker
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06-23-09 7:44 AM
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"People in glass houses..." OMG, what the heck is "piad?" Do some spell checking yourself! As for the police problems in Warren: Just wait until the weather gets grimy-hot and humid, and see how bad it will get.
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Trancemage
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06-23-09 7:17 AM
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'We're not going to get tied up on a car broken into, the theft of an item,' he said. 'If it's nothing urgent or life-threatening ... and there's no suspect or crime in progress. If nothing else is going on ... we will send them.'+ Wonderfull you stupid fools, you have just announced a free for all. I see a lot of people taking things into their own hands now.
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parkhouse
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06-23-09 7:13 AM
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Instead of picking at the spelling of the article, why not look at the real problem at hand? Warren is laying off more police, but are keeping the less important workers. The people of Warren need to be protected from those who feel they are above the law. It's not even safe to go to the store in the day time. Soon the people will have to protect their families on their own. It's time that the people of Warren tell the city officals that they have had enough, and that they need to be protected.
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escaped
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06-23-09 6:36 AM
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"Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin said the traffic has caused some concern, but it could be solved with concessions." Let me get this straight.... the Police are responsible for the rising crime rate because they won't give in to the administration any more? What a moron. Cleveland P.D. is HIRING not laying off... they should put a classified ad in the Trib... lots of out of work, experienced cops around here.
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OldManGrump2
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06-23-09 5:53 AM
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This article has to be a written up as a joke? Doesn't Darcie Loreno know how to use a spell and grammar checker? My God it's no small wonder why the Tribune is failing. Meanwhile, back to the real issue. Why can't Mayor O'B create some new positions such as Water Meter Reader/Police Officer so we can get more police on the streets piad out of his enterprise funds. It's time O'B to layoff your friends and family hidden in the non- direct city accounts. We gotta have more police on the streets and my man you ain't doin it now.
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FairyGrandmother
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06-23-09 5:43 AM
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Darcie, honey - spellcheck is only useful if you proofread the changes it makes. Mashing Ave. NW? Robbed at gumption? Please.
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