A ‘cop’s cop’ ends his shift

Ursuline grad finishes law enforcement career as Trumbull County’s chief deputy

WARREN -- Joseph Dragovich is completing almost three decades in law enforcement, but, if things went another way, the retiring Trumbull County chief deputy said he could have led a life as an accountant in the Northeast.

Dragovich's retirement became official at the dawn of the new year, and his spot as chief deputy will be filled by Jeff Palmer, who served under the rank of major as administrator of operations and supervisor of deputies under Sheriff Paul Monroe.

Palmer's role will be filled by Tony Villaneuva, the former anti-drug task force commander who has been elevated to the rank of major. Villanueva's TAG command will be taken over by former investigator Michael Yanucci. The sheriff's office also recently added detective Wayne Mackey, who had recently retired from Warren police.

"We have a bunch of capable people down there. Change is good, especially when you leave it in good hands," Dragovich said.

Monroe said Dragovich "had been the tip of the spear" for his organization.

Monroe said he feels good about his new team as he looks forward to re-election in 2024.

"When we got here, we inherited a mess in the jail, patrol operations and even issues with the clerks," Monroe said. "Joe has been active in bringing the office up to professional standards, and I'll be ever indebted for the great job that he has done for us."

Monroe called Dragovich "a cop's cop" saying he often bounced decisions off his chief deputy.

"I valued his opinion," the sheriff said.

ACCOUNTING

Dragovich took time last week to reflect on his career in law enforcement that began in the early 1990s. Dragovich, a native Youngstown East Sider, graduated from Youngstown Ursuline High School in 1983, and at the time, he said his mind wasn't on law enforcement.

"I had a background in accounting, I'm always a numbers guy, and my brother had lived in Boston so I headed there in 1986," he said.

Dragovich hooked up with a weekly publication specializing in arts and entertainment and worked in its credit department.

"I made some big commissions, but evidently it didn't work out that way," Dragovich said, so he followed his brother back to Ohio in 1988.

He married his high school sweetheart, and Dragovich said he discovered the Northeast was "no place to raise a family."

It was also in Boston that Dragovich perhaps found an inkling toward chasing criminals.

"I was sitting on a bench in a park in Cambridge across the river from downtown Boston. I noticed this guy sneaking up on a woman and he grabbed her purse," Dragovich said.

Because he was nursing a basketball injury, Dragovich said he didn't get to catch up to the assailant, but perhaps the incident stuck in his mind.

When he came back to Ohio, Dragovich said he obtained factory work in Newton Falls.

"Several of us wanted to apply to the Ohio State Highway Patrol because the brother-in-law of one of the guys was a trooper," Dragovich said.

TOUGH TRAINING

In late 1992, Dragovich applied and by January 1993 he was headed to the academy in Columbus for six months of training.

"There was a battery of tests -- physical and psychological -- in which about a quarter of the group was weeded out. I managed to survive the first two weeks and graduated on June 24, 1993," he said, noting the patrol's paramilitary training techniques that included morning inspections and lots of cleaning.

During his early years in the patrol in Southington, Dragovich said he met a lot of nice people willing to help him, which sparked lots of opportunities.

"My coach was Larry Firmi who was also a master sergeant with the Air Force Reserve in Vienna," Dragovich said. "He was tough, but cared for you. And if I did something, right, I made sure everybody knew that Larry had shown me how to do it."

By September 1998, Dragovich earned his first promotion in the patrol and eventually became the trainer of young troopers.

His assignments alternated between the Southington and Lisbon posts. By 2006, he was lieutenant and by 2010, he transferred to Lisbon for a district administrative job. In 2015, he received his last promotion as a staff lieutenant for District 1 in Findlay.

"I would be remiss to not mention the people who helped me along the way, including Bill Kostas -- a class act all the way; Christ Minter, Steve Hoarsely and Jerry Thompson -- they all had a great influence on me," Dragovich said.

By late 2016, Sheriff Monroe, who had defeated former Sheriff Tom Altiere in the election, came calling to have Dragovich join his team.

"The timing seemed to be perfect and it was a good fit. We did some great things here the last five years," Dragovich said.

A LOOK BACK

Among the accomplishments at the sheriff's office, Dragovich points to the solving of leaks at the jail and other improvements in the lockup.

"The sheriff made things so much better, trying to rid the office of political overtones," he said. "We are proud of our records."

Dragovich said the hirings always were made with the best person in mind.

"We raised standards and expectations in the office, which tended to step on some peoples' toes," Dragovich said. "Paul is a straight shooter who cares about people and strengthened our relationship with other law agencies, including the FBI, DEA and ATF."

The chief said Monroe gave all his administrators "a lot of freedom" to accomplish the job.

Dragovich said he leaves the office with the communication system "much better off," thanks to the help from Trumbull County commissioners and county Auditor Adrian Biviano.

Dragovich said he is looking forward to retirement with his wife of 35 years -- Sharon, and extended family, which includes two sons, Joe and Jake, and their growing families, which will total four grandchildren by April. A few years ago, Dragovich bought a home on 32 acres off Duck Creek Road in southwest Mahoning County.

"I've stocked a pond with some trout," Dragovich said. "And my hobbies include Christmas trees, some cigars and a little whiskey."