Washingtonville hires police chief
By LEONARD GLENN CRISTWASHINGTONVILLE - A Leetonia police officer with 16 years experience in law enforcement is Washingtonville's new police chief.
Village Council Monday unanimously approved John Robert Finch as its new police chief.
Finch, 37, of Leetonia, is slated to begin Aug. 29 at the rate of $8 per hour.
Council President Will Jones said Finch was chosen because of his many years of experience in law enforcement, including management experience, and his knowledge of grant writing.
Finch is a 1990 graduate of Lisbon's David Anderson High School. He spent a few months in the U.s. Air Force in 1991 before being honorably discharged, his application states.
He was hired as an auxiliary officer for the Columbiana Police Department in 1992. Finch later spent time as a dispatcher for Salem in 1993.
In 1995, Finch was hired by the Leetonia Police Department. He spent five years as a detective sergeant with the department, his application states.
Council had received two applications for the vacant position. Stephen P. Carlile, a part-time officer with the Washingtonville Police Department, also applied.
Acting police Chief James Craven, who served as chief from July 2004 until Jan. 31, 2008, did not apply for the position.
Frank Anderson, who served as chief after Craven, announced his resignation earlier this month. Anderson found a better paying job in Texas.
Anderson will be kept on Washingtonville's police roster as "inactive" for one year. Anderson has agreed to continue maintaining the Washingtonville Police Department Web site during that year, Craven wrote in his report to council.
Council also approved Gino Fabian, of Youngstown, as a reserve police officer. Mayor Norm Sommers swore-in Fabian during the meeting. Fabian has 14 years of law enforcement experience, having worked as a Mahoning County Sheriff's deputy and for private security firms.
In other business, Jones said he has priced a swing set for Washingtonville Park and has found someone who will donate a picnic table.
Jones and Councilwoman Renee Jackson have offered their August village paychecks - about $100 each - to help revitalize the underused park.
Monday, Jones said he would be willing to donate more of his own money to cover the difference in the cost of the swing set and what he and Jackson have already donated.
The park spans more than 14 acres, Jackson said. She hopes that in the future a baseball diamond may be put in the park. Jones wants to add a sandbox and additional picnic tables.
Jackson and Jones hope to purchase and install a swing set this weekend, pending confirmation of insurance costs.
Individuals or organizations interested in donating money or materials to revitalize Washingtonville Park are encouraged to call the village at 330-427-1526 and leave a message.
Leonard Glenn Crist can be reached at lcrist@salemnews.net
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WatchDog
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08-21-08 9:46 AM
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Well now that is an interesting response. Considering I didn't apply and you Blue72 automatically drew that conclusion for that being the reason I wrote my comment. Of course, it could tell me that this council must have received more than just two applications and you had insight of that information and automatically assumed that I was one of them apparently someone from Youngstown who did apply. Isn't this interesting? Are they withholding public information? Point I tired to make since you apparently didn’t catch it. To pay any law enforcement officer, especially a Police Chief only $8 hour is pathetic and degrading to the profession of law enforcement. The last time I looked there isn’t a dome surrounding Washingtonville to protect them from the crimes that does occur in Youngstown. You are only a fool to believe the size of a town prevents crime from happening. Anytime, any city council flirts with my family’s safety it makes my blood boil.
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BLUE72
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08-19-08 3:09 PM
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dont be upset that they did not even consider you WatchDog, Washingtonville is not like Youngstown, it is a small village in case you did not know that.
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WatchDog
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08-19-08 2:56 PM
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Washingtonville hires police chief? That quick? 2 applications? TWO!!! Impossible! But then again, this is Columbiana County- home to the quick fix scenario artists! All for the pathetic and degrading pay of $8 an hour. Shameful! To put a price on public safety! Whew and then they sit back and wonder why they have all these continued problems. Pathetic! Absolutely wreckless and irresponsible leadership! No matter how they try to slice and dice it!
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