Economy, geography force many Poland businesses to close

I don' know about you but if cops are that eman I would be more careful to call them if I needed help. You want the police and the community to get along,lose that and you have problems,people not trusting the police and the police don't trust them.

youngstownshrimp,
The Poland Village and Poland Township Police Departments keep our community SAFE. The people who live here LIKE it that way. If the Village Pantry isn't doing so well, perhaps you should move it to Youngstown. We won't miss you, I guarantee it.

Youngstownshrimp: I moved to Poland from out of state over 2 years ago. For 9 mos. I drove around with out-of-state plates, and a burned out tail light and was not once followed, pulled over, or looked at by the Police. My car windows were tinted dark and I worked night shift so I came home after midnight every night with no problems. So I was an outsider for 9 mos. and never experienced anything like you say. Poland is a bedroom community and as far as I can tell, it always has been, so really no businees is going very draw to many out-of-area shoppers unless they offer something unique. Also, you couldn't pay me to drive down 224 through Boardman on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. Too much traffic. Perhaps your "restaurant" would do better there.

Read today's Vindy, the article states that in Ohio, 1 out of every 2 mortgages are "upside down". I am certain that this economic issue is also goning to affect a "Bedroom Community" like Poland, too. In a year or two the effects will be noticed. Also, the apartments on the north side of 224 in Poland are borderline (if not already) Section 8, No community is immune.

youngstown shrimp, I am not trying to speak for all of the citizens of Poland. But, I think the community speaks for itself. If it was such a horrible place to live with terrible police, why do people move here? Why do people stay? I do a lot for this community. Because I don't get involved in the things you get involved in, doesn't mean I don't volunteer, don't plant flowers or whatever else you think I should be doing. I wish you and your business the best, I really do. I just believe our Police Department is a good one. I take great pride, and great pleasure in the fact we can walk our streets safely. I grew up in Cleveland and would not wish their problems on anyone. I appreciate our beautiful community, and, by the way, all you have done also.

My wife and I were looking to buy a house recently, and were looking at Poland Village. What I feel about Poland Village is that it is a bit of a tweener - meaning its not the quaint walking village b/c 224 and 170 are too busy for it to be a pleasant walk. Yet the other problem is that its not convienient enough to bring in alot of traffic.

I dont know if this is practical, but I wonder if a traffic circle or rerouting of traffic concept could be had to make it a more pleasing destination for pedestrians?

I agree with YoungstownShrimp,

The village is a wonderful place and there are great volunteer things going on here HOWEVER, Young Officer Beatty has been ruining the police force and the good name our police department has spent decades earning by protecting and serving the community and keeping it a safe place.

Young Beatty seems to think he is bigger than the people of the Village are and he absolutely does harass residents and non-residents alike. He makes bogus stops and is very cocky and arrogant in his demeanor. I have had personal experiences with this officer and not once did my vehicle have any equipment, license or speed violations. I have a friend who was stopped and talked down to by this officer for simply walking on the sidewalk with the family dog. I think people would have a different feeling about this officer if he were kind and respectful toward the people he encounters instead he gets this macho attitude and talks at you or talks down to you. He is employed to “protect and SERVE”, but it seems he only serves himself. He is a paid bully.

I have witnessed first hand how he speeds and races the engine of the cruiser and drives at unsafe speeds during the late night and early mornings. He is not running calls (if he were, we’d see the outcome in the Town Crier police blotter) he is just driving the cars into the ground and the tax payers will be the ones paying for repairs. What will happen when he wrecks the police car and totals it or crashes into a building or another car and causes death or injury? Who will foot those bills, who will suffer at the carelessness of this young and immature man acting a fool on our tax dollars?

His father and supervisor is the chief of the Department and this is a case of Political Nepotism at its finest!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepotism

Nepotism is a common accusation in politics when the relative of a powerful figure ascends to similar power seemingly without appropriate qualifications.

To BOBBOB, you stated you moved here over two years ago and had no issues with law enforcement while driving with out of state plates and other equipment violations......this was prior to officer beatty being employed as an officer. Just wanted to point that out.

There are always good and bad sides to each situation. Maybe Poland Village can bring business in because the Police Department is what it is. The reason that some of our shops can actually leave property out all night long is because it is such a safe place to establish business. In all fairness, I have to say that the Police Dept. has helped many many times. I have medical problems, and they have come to my aid many times, so I admit to bias. I might also add that I have had one ticket in my lifetime (over 40 years of driving) and the only ticket I have ever had was in Poland!! It was deserved, I ran a red light. I would have preferred not to get it, but it wasn't unjust. I used to own a business in Poland and was very happy that I didn't have to chain down everything when I closed. I know that we have problems with drugs as every community does. I don't think for a minute that we are immune, I just think overall, we have a truly beautiful, wonderfully safe, great place to live.

I can say the police force in Poland Village has helped me numerous times as well. I do not fault the polilce dept in whole for the actions of one officer.

I do not like the nepotism, I do not like that one officer is ruining the good reputation of the whole force, I do not like his abuse of power or abuse of the community property and streets.

I have lived here my entire life and never have I feared the police officers of our community. I have always respected and appreciated the job they do and the safety we all enjoy.

I do feel it is possible his behavior could force other people from patronizing our businesses and bringing revenue into our villliage. He is building a negative reputation and shedding a dark light on our community and the police department we have all come to love and appreciate.

As for the 2015 plan, I am all for it. I am a 3rd generation resident raising the 4th generation. I'd love for our community to be safe, beautiful, and show positive economic growth and stablity for my families future generations to enjoy.

I also agree with yoshrimp. Lived around here for over 20 years. Avoided Poland then and I still do. Nice area, but I would rather not drive through that town. Same for Newton Falls.

This comment is to the user going by the name alwayshope who said:

"If I were you, I would thank God for the tight security!"

I don't see how you came to the conclusion that the people on this post are anything other than thankful for our "tight security" and furthermore, you are missing the point here. We are most thankful for our police force and the security we all enjoy in our little village.

We are discussing the actions of ONE officer, not the department in whole.

Sure he has been reported, sure there are many complaints but his father and our police chief is not handeling the dicipliary actions or holding his son to the same standards of the rest of the offiers on the staff. I believe it is due to the fact that we are allowing Nepotism in our deparment.

I dont like shopping or going through Poland d/t the police force. Little crime d/t thier vigilance. So they spend some of the time hawking drivers all day. ill cont to avoid it as do others.