CANTON: Several Stark County law enforcement agencies on Tuesday officially joined the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force.
Pete Elliott, the U.S. marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, made the announcement, saying he is looking to recruit even more members in an effort to make “a tremendous difference” throughout the county for years to come.
“Today we are very, very happy to announce the expansion of our Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force here in Stark County with our local, state and federal partners,” Elliott said to an audience in the lobby of the Stark County Sheriff’s Office that included more than 30 officers and administrators for all levels of law enforcement.
“I am personally very, very, very excited about the expansion, and believe this task force partnership will make a tremendous difference throughout the city of Canton and Stark County for many years to come — just as the task force has made a difference across Northern Ohio in the last 10 years.”
Elliott said Stark and nearby counties form the last area to receive task-force designation in Northern Ohio. He said the task force “silently kicked off the Canton/Stark task force about two months ago [early June]” in partnership with Stark Sheriff George Maier, Canton police Chief Bruce Lawver, Ohio Adult Parole Authority Northeast Regional Director Todd Ishee, Parole Services Regional Administrator Michael Beebe, Uniontown police Chief Harold Britt, Perry police Chief Mike Pomesky and Stark Parks District police Chief Dan George.
Since the task force’s inception in 2003, the group collectively has arrested 3,200 violent fugitives, Elliott said. The Northern District of Ohio is comprised of 125 police agencies and 350 men and women deputized as part of the task force.
Working together
Elliot said the unit’s sexual predator coordinator soon will team with the Canton/Stark task force to make sure the approximately 1,200 sexual predators living in Stark are registered where they should be. Those who aren’t will be sought on federal charges.
“The bottom line, Elliott said, is this: We are going to be here. I’m excited about starting this task force partnership. We are here today and we’re going to be here for a long time to come.”
Maier said it was “exciting to hear about the collaboration and look around the room and see the potential partnerships we have with law enforcement officers in Stark County alone.
“Our partnership is a great opportunity to work together to make Stark County safe,” he said.
George cited his “firsthand knowledge of how successful such a task force can be.” He was a member of the violent crimes task force in Canton in the 1990s as an investigator with the Canton Fire Department.
“I believe in the concept of collaborative effort, and I wanted [a ranger who will be part time with the task force] to get the experience to do that kind of work.
“All small departments like we are don’t have the manpower to do what they can do in a collaborative way, so I support the concept wholeheartedly.”
Acting Jackson Township police Chief Tyson Bissler attended the session, but noted his department is still considering joining the task force.
“We are considering that on a part-time basis,” he said, “and we are in discussions with the U.S. Marshal’s Office now.”
George W. Davis can be reached via email at mediaman@sssnet.com.