SIDNEY — Calendar year 2022 brought many changes to the Sidney Police Department, especially during the fourth quarter of the year. What haven’t changed are the professionalism, dedication and service the members of this agency provide the Sidney community.

Police Chief Mark E. McDonough has submitted the following report:

Retirements, promotions, and new employees

Chief William Balling served the Sidney community for over 28 years as a member of this agency. He officially retired from service on Jan. 6, 2023. Our agency and community honors Chief Balling’s many years of service and dedication to the Sidney community.

Notable Retirements include:

• Capt. Mike Rosengarten, Feb. 11, 2022

• Sgt. Tony Cunningham, Oct. 21, 2022

• Officer Jon Hofmann, Oct. 21, 2022

• Sgt. Tim Kennedy, Dec. 3, 2022

Promotions include:

• Capt. Rob Jameson, March 28, 2022

• Sgt. Ethan Brown, March 28, 2022

• Sgt. Robert Hurd, Oct. 21, 2022

• Sgt. Cody Nelson, Jan. 1, 2023

New hires include:

• Officer Virginia Helton, April 18, 2022

• Officer Aaron Swiger, April 14, 2022

• Officer Jordan Fox, April 18, 2022

Training

In 2022, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) required each peace officer and State Trooper complete 24-hours of Continuing Professional Training (CPT). All members of the agency met or exceeded this requirement. Mandatory training included Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (4 hours), and 12 additional hours from the following additional courses: Responding to Mental Health (4 hours), Use of Force (4 hours), Legal Updates (4 hours), Officer Personal Wellness (4 hours), Responding to Sexual Assaults (4 hours), and responding to Domestic Violence (4 hours). The additional 8 hours of training came from our lesson plans associated with the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board as part of our state certification process. Agency members collectively received over 4,000 hours of in-service training in 2022. During 2023, OPOTC has tasked all law enforcement officers to complete an additional 24-hour CPT requirement to obtain critical update training in best law enforcement practices.

community engagement

The Sidney Police Department continued its commitment to the community by hosting/sponsoring several programs which provided a unique inside view of our agency, as well as informing and educating members of the Sidney community. These programs included: Safety Town program for children, Teen Police Academy, Citizens Police Academy, Police Cadet Program, RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) program, National Night Out community safety program, and the Guard Up Class (Unarmed self-defense for women). These programs serve to engage our community to form positive, lasting relationships and to provide the services the Sidney community deems important.

Current issues

Investigation, enforcement and treatment for those in our community affected by the heroin/opioid crisis continued to be the focus of our agency efforts in 2022. Our officers and the SAAT (Sidney Addict Assistance Team) work together focusing on enforcement AND treatment measures to address drug addiction within our community. During 2022 our Detective Section and SAAT investigated/provided service for the following:

• 53 calls for service that involved overdoses

• 154 report involving drug violations (excluding overdoses)

• 10 adults charged with drug violations

• 47 individuals involved in drug cases taken to grand jury for indictment

• 91 drug charges presented to the grand jury for indictment

• 9 instances when naloxone was administered by SPD officers in overdose cases

• 6 overdose deaths (Coroner’s Office data)

• 17 drug presentations completed

• 133 individuals SAAT and agency members attempted to contact for treatment assistance

• 72 individuals SAAT and agency members made contact to assist in treatment options

• 22 individuals contacting the SPD seeking assistance for self/family member for drug treatment.

• 133.5 hours our SAAT were called out to assist in drug cases.

Our Detective Section conducted 32 forensic interviews (specialized interviews of children), and processed over 65 items for forensic analysis. Our Drug Unit detectives received 89 drug violation indictments against 33 defendants, 110 grand jury indictments (non-drug related) against 72 defendants.

Although we continue to actively investigate all reports of drug abuse and prosecute those selling/possessing illegal drugs in our community, our focuses continues on addressing illegal drug usage as well as provide outreach to assist those with addiction and their families.

2023

The Police Department had a change in leadership in January 2023, with Chief Mark McDonough taking on the lead role of the organization. The Department looks forward to new opportunities to serve the Sidney community. Our focus will be on recruitment and retention of employees, leadership development of our officers, and continued community engagement. We will continue to provide those services our community deems important, while adhering to our Vision Statement and Core Values.