(PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
ARCHBOLD POLICE DEPARTMENT … (Left to Right) Back Row: Chief Leo Wixom III, Patrolman Jared Sanchez, Patrolman Evan Rufenacht, Patrolman Brice Meyer, Patrolman Levi Gerig, Patrolman Adam Berg, Asst. Chief Tera Rogers. Front Row: Part-time Clerk Cynthia Cassidy, Patrolman Eric Leininger, Patrolman Aaron Young, Patrolman Nathan Slough, Sgt. Bradley Merillat, Clerk Emily Hileman. Missing is, Patrolman Issac Brenneman and Part-time Patrolman Grant Schaffner.
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
While the call volume for the Archbold Police Department has remained consistent, it sure has been keeping them busy. There hasn’t been any noticeable change in the number or types of calls over the past year.
“I think that any changes will be driven by the needs of the community we serve. If our community changes, then we will need to change as well.”
“As our population has not changed, the call volume has remained constant. I also believe that technology will help us find new ways to serve our community” stated Chief Leo Wixom III.
In the past year, the main challenge at the Archbold Police Department has been staffing. Like many other departments, they had three patrolmen resign from law enforcement and pursue different career paths.
The department has been fortunate to hire new staff, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to fill positions due to a shortage of people entering law enforcement. Currently, they have a full-time position available as well as auxiliary positions.
The department has encountered some positive situations such as being able to hire some really great people who continue to contribute to the department and are eager to serve the community.
In addition to hiring great people, they were also able to promote new leadership within the department. Tera Rogers was promoted to Assistant Chief and Brad Merillat was promoted to Sergeant.
The community outreach initiatives are ongoing, with new ideas and partnerships planned for this year. Safety City and Bike Rodeo are among the ongoing initiatives. The Archbold School District continues to support the School Resource Officer (SRO) and his programs, including D.A.R.E and other interactions with kids.
The department is also partnering with Archbold Parks and Recreation for some summer fun activities. “I am looking to expand our community outreach by adding more programs and fostering increased interaction with the community,” said Wixom.
The Archbold Police Department is dedicated to continual improvement in serving the community. Training is a top priority for their staff, as they are required by the state of Ohio to complete 24 hours of Continuing Professional Training (CPT).
Their patrolmen receive 80 to 120 hours or more of training each year, ranging from basic to advanced levels. Their goal is to be better today than they were yesterday, which enables them to better serve and keep the community safe.
“I see our department in the community as protectors and educators. We need to protect the
community we serve but also educate them on what we expect. Yes, we can give out tickets every day,
but is that what is going to build up the community?”
“If we stop and educate you on what we expect and give a warning, everyone will learn from the experience and be better, including us. Don’t get me wrong we do and will enforce the law as necessary, but sometimes it’s just as effective to be present and visible to enforce the law”, added Wixom.
The department deals with various stories and interactions on a daily basis. Not all calls to the police are related to a crime; sometimes people just need help, and the police are always there to assist.
This help may range from changing a flat tire to unlocking a vehicle when someone accidentally locks their keys inside.
Some situations are more serious, such as responding to a suicide hotline call and providing support or administering Narcan to save someone from an overdose. These are real scenarios that have occurred at the Archbold Police Department over the past year.
The Archbold Police Department has a well-diverse staff, and the resources they have for a small department are significant. The community’s support remains at the core of why they do what they do.
The department is grateful for the support of the School District in enabling them to have a School Resource Officer in the schools, as well as the assistance of their crossing guards.
To combat the narcotic and opioid epidemics, they have an Officer in the Multi-Area Narcotics Unit. Additionally, they have a Drone Pilot for search and rescue, an active and engaging bike patrol within the community, and a role in the Special Response Team (SRT) for Fulton County for any emergent needs.
The unwavering support from Mayor Brad Grime and the village council is invaluable. All of these components need to function effectively to enable the department to continue serving the community as they do.
Chief Wixom explained that he is proud to be a part of a team that serves their community saying, “I would like to give one last “Thank You” to the men and women who serve our community and do it so well. They are truly what makes being part of this team so rewarding and I am proud to be part of it.”
“The team includes Asst. Chief Tera Rogers, Sergeant Brad Merillat, Eric Leininger, Nate Slough, Isaac Brenneman, Brice Meyer, Jared Sanchez, Levi Gerig, Adam Burg, Evan Rufenacht, Aaron Young, Grant Schaffner, Emily Hileman, Cyndi Cassidy, Frank Smith, Darlene King, and Doug Ball.”