WARREN — The Trumbull County drug task force will get a boost of $53,477 this year to help battle drugs.

Task force commander Capt. Tony Villaneuva was present at the statehouse in Columbus on Monday to receive a check from Gov. Mike DeWine. Villaneuva said it was his first time at the Capitol building and he felt honored to get the additional funding.

The money is part of the Recovery Ohio Law Enforcement Fund, Villaneuva said, for which he applied last year. He said he is unsure whether the local share will be for this year only or if it is a multi-year award.

The Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force will be receiving $26,993 for 2020.

Villaneuva said his force, called the Trumbull Action Group, will be using the money to purchase equipment to help with drug investigations, to help pay overtime for officers who are called out to drug raids and other investigations and for help in drug awareness and education in the community.

“We will be able to schedule more talks at schools with parents and teachers to help them identify some of the drugs,” Villaneuva said. “We will also be able to meet with students and impress with them the need to make healthy choices in their lives.”

The local forces are among the 27 agencies statewide that will share in a pool of grant dollars.

Sgt. Larry McLaughlin, commander of the Mahoning County task force, said the county’s grant will help pay for vehicles and mobile data service.

“Unfortunately, the technology changes, and we have to keep up with it,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin said his group encompasses the sheriff’s office, the local offices of BCI and ATF, and the police departments of Youngstown, Youngstown State, Poland Township, Austintown, Campbell, Struthers and New Springfield, plus Vienna and Liberty townships in Trumbull County.

At the afternoon news conference announcing the award, DeWine applauded the efforts of law enforcement throughout the state in taking the offensive in the drug war.

“Ohio’s task force officers work day and night to identify and arrest the drug traffickers who are fueling addiction. These grants will help local authorities continue this important work, as well as expand law enforcement’s role in preventing substance abuse through prevention, education and proactive outreach,” DeWine said.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com