Thursday - July 15: Wellsville's Crime Watch Committee met last Thursday evening for their regular monthly meeting at Village Hall. Presiding was Committee President "the" Janet Taggart.
Pictured here is President Taggart presenting a $100 donation to Wellsville's newest full time police officer, Tony Mancuso, to be used for the Village's Juvinile Fire Starter Program. That program was started in town about a year ago to counsel juveniles suspected of being fire starters. It teaches them the dangers and the consequences of what may happen when they play with fire. The program is headed by WPD's Juvenile Officer Marsha Eisenhart.
The program for this month's meeting was presented by CC Sheriff's Dept. Lt. Brian McLaughlin. He explained the mission of the SRT and demonstrated some of the "tools of the trade" used when the team is called out. McLaughlin serves as Commander of Columbiana County's Special Response Team (SRT). It is sometimes known as the SWAT team. McLaughlin is pictured above with a battering ram that he said is commonly called "the key to the city".
The CC SRT got started in 1990. Originally the team consisted of eight Sheriff Office deputies. Today the team has 16 members from six different CC departments. The team is made up with one officer from Wellsville, five Sheriff deputies, 3 St. Clair Twp. officers, 2 Columbiana officers, four New Waterford officers and one medic from North Star Ambulance Co. The SRT members train at least once a month,sometimes twice and if schedules can be coordinated it can be three or four times. Even the medic went to school to receive combat type tactical training before he was accepted on the team. The purpose of the training is to become familiar with fellow team members that allows them to be a well oiled machine when called upon. Once they swing into action there is no time to second guess what is going on. With their training they get familiar with each other and know exactly what each member will be doing when they enter into a situation.
McLaughlin said, except for the medic, each team member is a general patrol officer in their own departments. The purpose of the SRT is to supplement county police agencies when they feel a situation is too volatile to handle. Most of those situations usually start out as domestic disputes that turn into a hostage situation or one where the perputrator is threatening to harm others. Their last call out was up north when an armed individual got into an argument with his neighbor and was threatening to kill him while barricaded in his home. Fortunately that one was defused by the negotiator before the SRT had to go into action.
When called out the SRT does not come in and immediately take over. McLaughlin said once they arrive, they access the situation with information given to them by the officers first on the scene. If allowed a negotiator tries to talk the offender into surrendering. It's only after that the SRT goes into action to neutralize a hostile situation. With flash bangs, stun guns & tasers McLaughlin said they can clear a room or building within seconds without loss of life once they go through the door. McLaughlin said although called out at the same time the negotiator is not part of the team. McLaughlin related that their negotiator is very good at what he does and most of the time the SRT only get to sight see once they get there.
Following the program election of officers for the Committee was held for another year. Janet Taggart was re-elected Committee President, Sherrill Jackson will be Vice President and Linda Surace was returned as Treasurer.
Next meeting is Thursday, August 19 at 6 P.M. at Wellsville Village Hall. The program for next month will be presented by Wellsville's Animal Control Officer Leslie Dean. As always the meeting is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attent.
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