Det. Hunt CSB Officer of the Year

  

Det. Josh Hunt

    Tuesday April 28, 2009- Detective Josh Hunt was one of five Wayne County officers nominated earlier this year for the 2008 “Children Services Officer of the Year” honor. On April 23, all five officers were honored at the annual banquet held at Memories in Wooster. Each officer performed their job exceptionally well throughout 2008. The committee who nominated the five officers had a difficult decision to make in selecting just one officer. The committee selected Detective Josh Hunt. 

 Detective Hunt is very deserving of the honor. On behalf of the Orrville Police Department, I want to commend Josh for his exceptional performance.

Detective Hunt began his career with the Orrville Police Department in 2001 as a patrol officer. Josh was selected by his peers in 2004 as co-winner of the Orrville “Officer of the year” honor. Josh was then assigned as a detective in 2008. Josh performs multiple roles for the department to include School Resource Officer and Medway Liaison Officer.

 

Chief Dino J. Carozza

Press Release

Teacher arrested, charged with Sexual Battery involving students

(Orrville, Ohio)- Erin M. Speicher, 34, of 810 South Vine Street in Orrville was arrested on Sunday February 8th, 2009 by the Orrville Police Department and charged with Sexual Battery, a 3rd degree felony.

This was in response to a complaint regarding inappropriate sexual conduct with Rittman High School students.

There are multiple alleged incidents. An investigation continues involving Orrville Police, Rittman Police, Wayne County Prosecutor’s office, and Wayne County Children Services in conjunction with the Rittman School District.

Mrs. Speicher was arraigned this morning in Wayne County Municipal Court in Wooster, Ohio.

Suspect arrested in downtown B&E’s

Man is charged with string of crimes in Orrville

By PAUL LOCHER

Staff Writer

ORRVILLE — Police say they hope they have managed to put yet another dent in a crime wave of break-ins that has plagued the city this summer.

Police arrested Joshua R. Shelton, 27, of 1111 N. Elm St., Orrville, Thursday. They allege he went on a one-man crime wave late Wednesday and into Thursday, leaving a string of break-ins and attempted break-ins in his wake.

Police Chief Dino Carozza said Monday it appears Shelton attempted to gain entry into an apartment at the Lamplight Court complex on North Ella Street on Wednesday. Failing to gain entry into that apartment where a neighbor reported to police the sound of someone trying to break in, Shelton apparently stole a bicycle from a nearby apartment and rode to the downtown area where Carozza said he broke a window on the east side (rear) of a store in the 100 block of North Main Street to gain access.

Once inside, Carozza said, Shelton used a variety of tools from inside the store to try to gain access to the contents of a safe. Carozza said Shelton was unable to penetrate the safe.

At that point, Carozza said, it appears Shelton kicked open a door that joins another business and took only a small amount of money — described by Carozza as “less than $100.”

Read the full story at the Daily Record website here

Press Release

OPD Nabs 5 for Breaking and Entering at BP

For immediate release:

On Wednesday August 6, 2008 at approximately 1:10 a.m., officers from the Orrville police department responded to the 300 block of South Main Street to investigate a complaint of glass breaking. Upon arrival at the business, the officers discovered a broken window at the BP gas station located at 304 South Main Street. The officers immediately requested back up from the Dalton police department as well as off duty personnel from Orrville.

 

The officers secured the scene and canvassed the area for suspects or witnesses. A witness identified a suspicious person observed in the area at the time of this incident. As a result of this tip and the officers’ field investigation, sufficient probable cause was established to arrest Shaun Robinson, 19, Brenden Siedel, 18, and Justin Murphy, 20, and to take into custody the two 17 year old juveniles for breaking and entering at the BP gas station. One of the juveniles was found to have a warrant from Medina County and was later turned over to the Medina County Sheriff’s Office.

 

 The officers also recovered property that was allegedly removed from the business as evidence. The adult suspects were later transferred to the Wayne county jail, where they will await arraignment.

 

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Labor Day OVI Crackdown

 

You Drink, You Drive, You Lose

 

[Orrville, Ohio] – Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. In 2006, more than 13,000 people died in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. The picture for motorcycle riders is particularly bleak. Forty-one percent of the 2,007 motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2006 had BAC levels of .08 or higher. 

 

That is why the Orrville Police Department announced today they will be joining with thousands of other law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation from August 15 throughout the Labor Day holiday to take part in the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.  crackdown on impaired driving.

 

Make no mistake. Our message is simple. No matter what you drive—a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle—if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses.

 

Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. Yet we continue to see far too many people suffer debilitating injuries and loss of their loved ones as a result of impaired driving. This careless disregard for human life must stop. To help ensure that happens, we are dedicated to arresting impaired drivers wherever and whenever we find them.

 

Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work, and dozens of other expenses. So don’t take the chance. Remember, if you are over the limit, you are under arrest.

 

The national Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. impaired driving crackdown is a prevention program organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity. 

 

This year’s effort is supported by $11 million in paid-national advertising to help put everyone on notice that if they are caught driving impaired, they will be arrested. 

 

For more information, visit www.Stopimpaireddriving.org.

 

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Breaking and Entering

Orrville sees rash of B&E’s in Business District

July 7, 2008

Orrville-The Orrville Police Department is investigating a string of thefts that have taken place in the downtown business district over the past several weeks. It is believed that these thefts are taking place late at night or in the early morning hours before sunrise. Due to the size and weight of the items stolen, it is believed that there could be more than one suspect involved and that a vehicle, possible a pickup truck, is used to haul the items from  the scene.

The department will be sharing information with surrounding law enforcement agencies in the area to determine if there are similar patterns in other jurisdictions. In the meantime, Chief Carozza is asking that citizens be on the lookout for individuals or suspicious vehicles near businesses after hours and to call the department immediately.

 

B&E Prevention for Small Businesses 

Make sure all outside entrances and inside security doors have deadbolt locks. If you use padlocks, they should be made of steel and kept locked at all times. Remember to remove serial numbers from your locks, to prevent unauthorized keys from being made.

All outside or security doors should be metal-lined and secured with metal security crossbars. Pin all exposed hinges to prevent removal.

Windows should have secure locks and burglar-resistant glass. Consider installing metal grates on all your windows except display windows.

Remove all expensive items from window displays at night and make sure you can see easily into your business after closing.

Light the inside and outside of your business, especially around doors, windows, skylights, or other entry points. Consider installing covers over exterior lights and power sources to deter tampering.

Check the parking lot for good lighting and unobstructed views.

Keep your cash register in plain view from the outside of your business, so it can be monitored by police during the day or at night. Leave it open and empty after closing.
Be sure your safe is fireproof and securely anchored. It should be kept in plain view. Leave it open when it’s empty, use it to lock up valuables when you close. Remember to change the combination when an employee who has had access to it leaves your business.

Before you invest in an alarm system, check with several companies and decide what level of security fits your needs.

Learn how to use your system properly. Check the system daily, and run a test when closing.

Taken from: http://northmiamibeach.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B44E23DA1-BD99-42A9-B13C-F9C7C4FBCFB6%7D

Awards

Orrville Police Department honors its own

April 6, 2008

By PAUL LOCHER

Staff Writer

ORRVILLE — Several personnel from the Orrville Police Department were honored with awards presented at a recent meeting. The awards included letters of recognition, lifetime service awards and a lifesaving medal.

Chief Dino Carozza said in the past awards for various achievements in the department had been handed out individually and without fanfare. He said that this year, at the suggestion of Sgt. Howard Funk, it was decided to present the awards during a departmental meeting so the recipients could be congratulated by their peers.

“I think its important to have these people recognized at a formal presentation,” said Carozza, saying he hoped the awards might serve as inspiration to the recipients’ peers.

Letters of recognition were received by patrolman Josh Hunt and dispatcher Pam Morris.

Morris’ letter was presented in recognition of her ability to successfully train three new dispatchers over the course of an 18-month period while simultaneously attending to her regular duties.

Hunt received his recognition for his work on a rash of motor vehicle thefts in the community. Hunt’s efforts, which culminated in the arrests of two suspects, included tracking offenders through snow.

Three officers were recognized with lifetime achievement awards. Those were presented to officers who provided faithful service to the community for a period of 20 consecutive years. Receiving those awards were Carozza, Capt. Jay Lax and patrolman Jim Davis.

Two officers received a lifesaving medal. This is awarded to officers or dispatchers whose efforts resulted in either saving a life or prolonging a person’s life until further treatment could be administered by medical personnel. The recipients of this award were detective Bill Stitt and deputy patrolman Randy Regan.

Carozza said that on Jan. 13, Regan and Stitt were called to a residence at Chateau Circle where they discovered a 47-year-old man had collapsed and ceased breathing as a result of a drug overdose. The officers, whose response time was two minutes, were able to use an automatic electronic defibrillator coupled with CPR to get a pulse and revive the victim.

Stitt’s recognition was for a March 20, 2005, medical emergency at a Cleveland Avenue residence where he discovered a female victim in cardiac arrest. Stitt was able to use the AED coupled with CPR to revive the victim until she could be transported by ambulance.

Carozza said police personnel were issued both ribbons and medals to be worn on their class A uniforms. He said the department plans to construct a display case in the squad room where the medals can be displayed when they are not being worn by personnel.

In addition, Carozza said the department has created a new award — the Medal of Valor — which could be awarded for extraordinary courage or outstanding performance by a department member. He speculated that the person earning that medal would likely incure a level of danger in the circumstances in which it would be awarded.

“This one (medal) may never even be awarded in the time that I’m in this office,” Carozza said. “It might never be awarded. The circumstances would have to be extraordinary.”

Carozza said anyone in the department can nominate anybody else for the various awards.

He said he plans to hold the awards ceremony twice a year henceforth.

Reporter Paul Locher can be reached at 330-682-2055, or e-mail plocher@the-daily-record.com.

OPD Hiring Police Officers

The Orrville Police Department seeks applicants to take an exam for the classified position of police officer. Responsibilities are varied and involve the enforcement of state and local laws. Applicants must possess the ability to deal tactfully and firmly with the public, understand and interpret a wide range of local laws, understand and give commands and directions. Pay range: $19.65 to $24.54, after FTO training is completed, plus fringe benefits.

Qualifications: Police Officer Training Requirement: Applicants must possess a HS diploma or equivalent, be certified as a peace officer in Ohio, or certifiable, reside or willing to relocate to a zone of residency within 18 months after hire, be a Citizen of the United States, possess a valid Ohio operator’s license, pass a drug screen, background check, and be able to perform the essential functions of the position. Note: There cannot be more than one year between appointments as a peace officer or since receipt of your initial certification following completion of the academy. Proof of such certification must accompany the application or be submitted by the exam date.

Learn more: http://www.orrville.com/DEPT/PERS/Police%20Officer%20Web%20Page%2003%2008.pdf

 

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City Hall Evacuated

They weren’t explosive, but …

March 27, 2008

By PAUL LOCHER

Daily Record Staff Writer

ORRVILLE — A city resident with good intentions wound up evacuating and closing Orrville’s municipal building for a time Tuesday afternoon.

Police said that about 5:30 p.m. a male resident arrived at the Police Department with three suspected military incendiary devices to inquire about the safe handling and disposal of the items.The resident, who had the items in his possession when he arrived at City Hall, left the ordnance outside the building with friends watching it, while he went inside to talk with officers.

Read full story at: http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/3532771

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murder

Gray indicted for murder

By CHRISTINE L. PRATT

Wooster Daily Record Staff Writer

WOOSTER — An Orrville man faces life in prison for allegedly killing a child he was supposed to be watching.

James Vincent Gray, 37, of 1825 W. Market St., Apt. K-24, was charged following a Friday meeting of a Wayne County Common Pleas grand jury, which handed down indictments for murder, felonious assault, involuntary manslaughter and two counts of endangering children, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Martin Frantz.

The murder charge carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Read full story: www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/3433991

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