December 19, 2016

Cops brew better relations with residents

By Melissa Klaric, The Herald
Original article HERE

The best part of Saturday’s Coffee with a Cop event in Sharon was watching 6-year-old Cason Connelly beat Sharon police officers in several Pokemon card games.

Cason appeared to be using a set of rules unfamiliar to Sharon’s downtown foot patrolman Adam Zazado, who objected to Cason taking cards from him.

A lot of laughs erupted from that booth at Nico and Lou’s Coney Island on West State Street where Cason and his partner, Cpl. Marc-Anthony Adamo, strategized against Zazado and Patrolman Steve Winans.

“That really helps to build a bridge,” Mercer County Assistant District Attorney Mary Odem said, referring to the card game. “Maybe it will influence the next generation to go into law enforcement.”

Odem, a Farrell resident who was born and raised in Sharon, said she just had to stop in and mingle.

“It’s a great event. Our police here, I truly believe, they love their community,” Odem said. “All the issues we have with witnesses … this is important.”

A scan of the room marked two police chiefs – Christopher Hosa, Sharpsville, and Jon Rococi, Farrell – having a cup of joe together. Further down the counter was Sharon police Capt. Mark Johnson and newly-promoted Lt. Dan Lesheski.

Detectives Cpt. Travis Martwinski and Sgt. Edward Stabile were also seen roaming around the restaurant.

Sharon Police Chief Gerry Smith, who organized the event at the downtown business, was deep in conversation with business owners, residents and some Sharon council members.

“I wish Gerry would’ve been made the chief a long time ago,” Tim Sebastian, president of New Era Machine on North Water Avenue.

Sebastian said that Smith made sure that four separate cases of thefts that happened years ago in his business were solved and people arrested.

“He’s doing so much. For me personally, he’s done a lot,” Sebastian said. “You have no clue what was going on here before. (Smith) is just one man. He’s got a pretty tall hill to climb.”