LISBON - Village Council approved a resolution this week that will allow the police department to join the Columbiana County Homicide Task Force.
Under the mutual aid agreement drafted by county Prosecutor Robert Herron, participating departments would provide investigatory assistance if requested by another department when a suspected murder occurs in their community.
Lt. Fred Carlisle attended the meeting and told council the assistance would take the form of a village police officer who would respond to the crime scene, if available. The only expense to the village is it would continue to pay the officer's salary while assisting in the early stages of a homicide investigation, which is not expected to last beyond the first 48 hours in most instances.
The task force benefits small police departments such as Lisbon by giving it access to additional manpower when investigating a potential homicide.
"I personally think it's a good thing, and it won't cost us any more money," said Councilman Jeff Snyder.
Snyder and Council President Roger Gallo said they met with county Sheriff Ray Stone to discuss the task force. The requests for assistance would go through the sheriff's office.
Upon further questioning about the potential cost to Lisbon, Carlisle said the officers assigned to the task force would receive free periodic homicide investigatory training at the sheriff's office, arranged through the prosecutor's office.
The officer assigned to be Lisbon's representative on the task force was unclear. Carlisle said it was his understanding officers Shar Daub and Mike Abraham had attended the initial meetings. Snyder said they got the impression from Sheriff Stone the village's representative would be Dan Downard because he already serves as director of the county Drug Task Force.
The resolution to join the homicide task force passed on first reading and must be approved on two more readings, or as an emergency measure, before it takes affect.
In other action, council voted 4-1 to grant the Nazarene Church permission to splilt its property in two so the church can sell a house located on the property. Councilwoman Mary Ann Gray, who lives next door, voted no because the split will result in two oddly shaped properties.
