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Ravenna out of drug task force: Police department cites 'management considerations,' work with ATF

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Dave O'Brien
March 14, 2010

 

 

By Dave O’Brien

Record-Courier staff writer

The Ravenna Police Department no longer has an officer assigned to the Portage County Drug Task Force, the multi-jurisdictional agency that investigates the drug trade in Portage County, the department announced this week.

“Management considerations” are the reason behind the change, according to a department press release. The announcement did not go into specifics, but the department and Ravenna Mayor Joseph Bica said budget considerations were not factors in the decision. 

Ravenna police are now participating in “task force activities” with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, according to the press release. The ATF investigates illegal activity involving firearms, explosives, arson, alcohol and tobacco products.

Task force commander Pat Burns had no comment on Ravenna’s decision to exit the task force.

Ravenna Police Chief Tim Adkins was on vacation and not available for comment. Ravenna police spokesman Lt. David Rarrick said Friday he couldn’t comment on the decision, but said Ravenna police will continue to provide the task force and sheriff’s office with assistance when requested. 

“We have officers we’ll definitely give to the detail. If the sheriff calls for assistance, when the time comes they need people, we’ll provide all the assistance we can. We’ll never say no,” Rarrick said. 

Bica said lines of communication will remain open between city police and the task force. 

“We will continue to make every effort to continue the dialogue with the Portage County Drug Task Force to see if we can work something out,” Bica said Friday. 

Asked for comment last week, Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci said he believes Ravenna’s withdrawal from the task force will be temporary.

The agencies that remain a part of the task force include the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, the Aurora, Kent, Streetsboro and Garrettsville police departments and the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office. 

 




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   Next 10 Comments of 24 Total Comments
24.
    Posted by superman March 15, 2010
Mike69 Sometimes even a blind man can see the writing on the wall.

23.
    Posted by sowhat March 15, 2010
Mayor bica was NOT elected by the people, there was no special election, he was appointed by council. And yes the mayor can be removed from his position just read the charter.

22.
    Posted by Vydunas March 15, 2010
This sounds good to me. Most of the drug laws are Federal (and thus unconstitutional) anyway. Why should we have special cops for drugs? Get them off the street and into CVS where they belong.

21.
    Posted by truth b told March 15, 2010
I know of a man that has a 4 page rap sheet for drugs to voilence that is still walking the streets today. Tell me how that happens?

20.
    Posted by digdug5 March 15, 2010
Read: ATF=Alchol/Tobaccos/Firearms.
No mention of DRUGS in that title.

As a lifelong Ravenna resident it seems to me the so-called government officials have really dropped the ball here.

Or maybe they are just too overwhelmed by their new positions.

19.
    Posted by mike69 March 15, 2010
to superman, I'm just asking, how do you know that is a crackhouse there?

18.
    Posted by ppt March 14, 2010
Truthtalk....You can not fire the mayor, he is an elected official.....only the voters have a say who is mayor.......the mayor is the safety director and he can dismiss employees of the city not getting along....RIGHT.

17.
    Posted by Never Fear UnderDog is Here March 14, 2010
Iam not a drug user but we all use drugs of some kind.If we drink,smoke,take medication or just eat too much pie.
I have a problem with people that use drugs that alter their thinking or how they treat me or my family.
So drug use by doctors,lawyers,factory workers,police,nurses,judges or anyone making stuff or making judement on things that directly could change our lives for the worst,should be stopped.

16.
    Posted by Truthtalk March 14, 2010
Police Chief is on vacation...no comment from the guy left in charge...the Mayor wants to "continue the dialogue" with the task force. Should we not talk before we walk away???

Sounds like someone cannot get along with someone else...now we just have to see WHO is causing the problems and fire them.

15.
    Posted by Army First Sergeant March 14, 2010
I hope this was more the Mayor's decision than the Police Chief's. Bottom line, there are probably just as much work for the TF to do in Ravenna than anywhere else in PC. Bad decision.

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