With turmoil surrounding the resignation of Tim Escola as police chief in Perry Township, it likely will be a gigantic task for trustees to find an Escola replacement.
One name that has surfaced is Larry Dordea, former police chief in Alliance, who is currently a lieutenant in the Hartville Police Department and who ran unsuccessfully against Sheriff Tim Swanson in November, 2008.
Some in Hartville believe that Dordea is a "police chief in waiting," if George Dragovich ever makes good on his promise to retire. Dragovich has come under criticism in recent years over several incidents described elsewhere in the Stark County Political Report. The SCPR is critical of Dragovich and has written that it is time for him to move on.
He had been on record on saying he would retire in June, 2009. Well, let's see it's July 4, 2009 and no word on an imminent Dragovich retirement. Is Dordea going to be content to be a "police chief in waiting" much longer.
Probably not.
So, does this make him a prime candidate for the Perry job?
Dordea has told the SCPR that he has had contact from Perry Township based folks but not an official inquiry as to his availability.
It will be interesting to see whether or not the Perry trustees show any interest in Dordea.
Dordea certainly has effective police leadership credentials.
Even his opponent Sheriff Tim Swanson had nothing but positive things to say about Dordea's leadership as police chief in Alliance when the SCPR interviewed Swanson in the course of the 2008 election cycle.
Clearly, the pressure is on the Perry trustees to get the new hire right.
