PLENTY OF PRIDE … The Pioneer Police Department is “both honored and humbled to have been selected as the people’s choice for this award.” Pride is plain to see on the faces of (right to left) Officer Randy Mills and his partner, K9 Officer Vader, Sergeant Scott Pollick, Chief of Police Tim Livengood, Sergeant Jim Snivley, Lieutenant Jonathan Roberts, and Officer Spiess. Just as proud but engaged in servicing the community at the time of the photo are Sergeant Butch Wilhite, Officer Justin Smith, and Officer Jason Randall.
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
The Pioneer Police Department won the 2023 Light Ohio Blue First Responder Photo Challenge 1st Place thanks to 4,616 votes from the community.
With a population around 1,400, the Pioneer Police Department participated in Category 5 of the challenge, which covers agencies that service between 100-4,999 citizens.
Category 5 had 15 other agencies competing, with runner-up Mt. Orab Police department having 3,954 votes.
This competition was sponsored by Light Ohio Blue, Light Ohio Red, and Flying Cross Uniforms of Ohio, and was in remembrance of the 22nd anniversary of the heroic actions made by first responders after the attack on 9/11.
Their winning photo featured K-9 Officer Vader in front of a police cruiser at the Pioneer football field, and they will be honored for it in an awards ceremony on October 16 at Hilliard hosted by Light Ohio Blue/Red.
Chief Tim Livengood gave special recognition to Officer Randy Mills and Sergeant Scott Pollick for taking the initiative to put in the efforts it took to claim this victory for the Pioneer PD.
While it is fantastic for the department to take 1st place in anything, it is extra impressive that this victory depended on community support, demonstrating to the Pioneer Police Department that the citizens of Williams County have their back.
Anna can be reached at anna@thevillagereporter.com