County police join forces on homicide
Mutual Aid Agreement offers help from other departments
May 16, 2012
,
Salem News
LISBON -The first 48 hours in a murder investigation are often
the most critical, even more so if the police department lacks
sufficient personnel to conduct the initial investigation.
In an effort to put more boots on the ground when a suspected homicide occurs, law enforcement agencies in Columbiana County are joining forces to provide immediate investigatory assistance to whomever needs it.
Under the Homicide Task Force Mutual Aid Agreement drafted by county Prosecutor Robert Herron, police departments that sign on would agree to provide investigatory assistance when requested from other signators.
County Sheriff Ray Stone, who was the first to sign the agreement, compared it to mutual aid agreements between fire departments. "If there's a homicide, and they want assistance from the task force, it would be there," he said. "If you need extra help, then that help is readily available."
The idea of creating such a task force was first raised about 10 years ago by former Sheriff David Smith but abandoned due to lack of interest. Stone said when he was Perry Township police chief he remembers Herron pushing the idea, but nothing came of it.
Then last August, the head of the county Families of Homicide Victims resurrected the idea when its founder Belinda Puchajda asked county commissioners for $5,000 seed money she said was needed to start the task force.
Herron did not return a phone message left for him, but Stone said the prosecutor has been meeting with police chiefs from around the county for the past several months to create the task force, and every department in the county except East Liverpool expressed interest in participating.
Due to the limited funding of the police departments in the county, only a few have a detective. When a suspected homicide occurs, the task of gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses can be daunting, especially for a small department, which is where the task force comes in.
Requests for assistance from the task force would go through the sheriff's office, which would contact member departments to determine if they had any investigators available to provide assistance.
Stone said even with four detectives, his staff can often be overwhelmed, depending on the circumstances. He recalled during a 2011 homicide investigation they found four people at the scene and learned at least another four had fled, and all of them needed interviewed as soon as possible, along with neighbors and other potential witnesses, so the information could be pieced together to create a picture of what had happened.
"There's so many things to do," he said. "The first few hours are really the most important, and if you can have four or six detectives instead of just one that really helps."
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation assists, but its focus is on processing forensic evidence at the crime scene.
Stone said the chief law enforcement officer in the community where the homicide occurred would retain jurisdiction, regardless of what assistance is provided. For example, if the crime occurred in Salem, the Salem Police Department would remain in charge of the investigation
The participating departments would agree to pay the wages of the investigators who assist under the task force agreement. Stone expects those costs to be minimal because there a few suspected homicides during any given year, and the time required would likely be no more than one day.
Training may be available through the state for new investigators designated to participate in the task force, and Stone said the training could be held at the monthly meeting of county detectives hosted by his detectives. These meetings are held to share investigatory information.
The mutual aid agreements must be approved by the various city and village councils and boards of township trustees. Those being asked to sign are: Salem, Columbiana, East Palestine, Lisbon, Leetonia, New Waterford, Salineville, Wellsville, Summitville, St. Clair Township, Liverpool Township and Perry Township.
East Palestine Council approved the agreement, and Lisbon Council was asked to sign the agreement at its meeting this past week, but they declined to take any action due to questions they had. Lisbon's chief was unavailable to provide the answers because he is off while recovering from surgery.
In an effort to put more boots on the ground when a suspected homicide occurs, law enforcement agencies in Columbiana County are joining forces to provide immediate investigatory assistance to whomever needs it.
Under the Homicide Task Force Mutual Aid Agreement drafted by county Prosecutor Robert Herron, police departments that sign on would agree to provide investigatory assistance when requested from other signators.
County Sheriff Ray Stone, who was the first to sign the agreement, compared it to mutual aid agreements between fire departments. "If there's a homicide, and they want assistance from the task force, it would be there," he said. "If you need extra help, then that help is readily available."
The idea of creating such a task force was first raised about 10 years ago by former Sheriff David Smith but abandoned due to lack of interest. Stone said when he was Perry Township police chief he remembers Herron pushing the idea, but nothing came of it.
Then last August, the head of the county Families of Homicide Victims resurrected the idea when its founder Belinda Puchajda asked county commissioners for $5,000 seed money she said was needed to start the task force.
Herron did not return a phone message left for him, but Stone said the prosecutor has been meeting with police chiefs from around the county for the past several months to create the task force, and every department in the county except East Liverpool expressed interest in participating.
Due to the limited funding of the police departments in the county, only a few have a detective. When a suspected homicide occurs, the task of gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses can be daunting, especially for a small department, which is where the task force comes in.
Requests for assistance from the task force would go through the sheriff's office, which would contact member departments to determine if they had any investigators available to provide assistance.
Stone said even with four detectives, his staff can often be overwhelmed, depending on the circumstances. He recalled during a 2011 homicide investigation they found four people at the scene and learned at least another four had fled, and all of them needed interviewed as soon as possible, along with neighbors and other potential witnesses, so the information could be pieced together to create a picture of what had happened.
"There's so many things to do," he said. "The first few hours are really the most important, and if you can have four or six detectives instead of just one that really helps."
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation assists, but its focus is on processing forensic evidence at the crime scene.
Stone said the chief law enforcement officer in the community where the homicide occurred would retain jurisdiction, regardless of what assistance is provided. For example, if the crime occurred in Salem, the Salem Police Department would remain in charge of the investigation
The participating departments would agree to pay the wages of the investigators who assist under the task force agreement. Stone expects those costs to be minimal because there a few suspected homicides during any given year, and the time required would likely be no more than one day.
Training may be available through the state for new investigators designated to participate in the task force, and Stone said the training could be held at the monthly meeting of county detectives hosted by his detectives. These meetings are held to share investigatory information.
The mutual aid agreements must be approved by the various city and village councils and boards of township trustees. Those being asked to sign are: Salem, Columbiana, East Palestine, Lisbon, Leetonia, New Waterford, Salineville, Wellsville, Summitville, St. Clair Township, Liverpool Township and Perry Township.
East Palestine Council approved the agreement, and Lisbon Council was asked to sign the agreement at its meeting this past week, but they declined to take any action due to questions they had. Lisbon's chief was unavailable to provide the answers because he is off while recovering from surgery.
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