Lordstown leashes idea of police dog

Chief says limited staffing prevents officer training

LORDSTOWN -- Because of a required six weeks of training by a police officer to be a handler, Lordstown officials have decided to wait until 2023 to get a police dog. Limited staffing in the police department prevents an officer from being away for six weeks, police Chief Brent Milhoan said.

Milhoan told village officials Monday that officer Brett Blank was going to go this summer for the training.

"As much as we had hoped to move forward with the support from the residents and the businesses who have been generous with their donations, it just will not work this year. Plans are to get officer Blank in next summer's six-week class," Milhoan said.

Village officials have been discussing getting a police dog to help with drug investigations and in locating missing people.

Councilman Lamar Liming said the village has been looking to fill openings in the police department.

"We will get the staffing taken care of first and then we will be work on getting the dog and the training," he said.

Council previously had approved establishing an account for the purchase, training and maintenance of a police dog.

The Lordstown Police Department's Association is raising money for the animal. The goal was to raise $25,000 to cover the cost of the dog, handler training, care and equipment to fit a police cruiser for the dog.

Police informed officials that donations are being sought to negate the cost from the village's police budget.

Blank had Newton Falls bring its police dog to a village council meeting to show what the animal does.

Currently, Lordstown police must request through mutual aid to utilize another agency's dog, potentially wasting valuable time in removing drugs from the streets, apprehending criminals and locating missing people, they said.

In other business, council President Ron Radtka said Tom Uher of Champion Insurance of Austintown covered the $5,100 cost of four defibrillators.

Fire Chief Travis Eastham said training on the defibrillators and CPR will be held on Fridays starting this month for village employees. Eastham said all village employees will be trained on use of the defibrillators.

The defibrillators are in the road, park and water departments and administration building. They already are at the fire and police department.

In other business, council:

• Approved the sale of a used 2021 Ford Explorer Interceptor vehicle to Klaben Ford Lincoln in Warren at $33,444. The village plans to purchase a 2022 Ford Explorer from Montrose Ford LLC through the state's cooperative purchasing program;

• Voted against leasing the park ballfields for outside groups;

• Announced the county health department will be trapping and vaccinating raccoons in the area due to health concerns;

• Heard from Hill that a resident of state Route 45 was concerned of the "jake-brake" noises from trucks going to and from construction sites.