Safety camera system doing its job for Orrville Police Department
ORRVILLE − The Depot Park project kicks off with construction of the North Depot parking lot area after City Council approved advertising for bids Monday.
The area known as the Heather Studio parking lot will become a primary parking for business on West Market Street and eventually will be used as a primary overflow parking after the Depot Park project is completed.
“We should be done mid to late May, which would be a pretty good time frame,” said Safety-Service Director Steven Wheeler.
The park plan design will be completed by EDGE Landscape Architecture and is projected to be completed over the summer season.
Council green-lit Phase 2 of the firefighter employment program initiated last year, aiming to convert seasonal employees into permanent part-time positions.
“The legislation places seven different positions into the unclassified service,” said Phil McFarred, human resources manager. “We built those positions to accommodate the employees that we already have on staff so that they have a position to be put into. And then the other thing that this does is establishes the pay grades that go with those classifications.”
The initiative came as a response to the large increase in EMS calls the city receives every year, which reached over 1,200 in the past three years.
Safety camera system proves beneficial to law enforcement
Chief Cory Seiler delivered the Orrville Police Department's annual report for 2023. He began by acknowledging former Chief Matt Birkbeck for his service.
“Chief Birkbeck was an exceptional leader and everyone in the police department and the community benefited from working alongside him,” he said.
Seiler noted one of the 2023 highlights was the public safety camera system.
“The Verkada Public Safety camera system is an exceptional crime-solving tool for us,” Seiler said. “We've been able to aid surrounding areas and investigations and we've utilized this to prevent further crimes from being committed.”
The system played a pivotal role in solving crimes, including the apprehension of a suspect involved in a sexual assault case, the chief said.
The OPD welcomed two new officers, Lirys Bueno and Mike Smucker. Bueno is one of the five Orrville Schools resource officers, while Smucker serves in the extensive investigation agency.
Police chief's 2023 incident, call report
Criminal reports rose from 265 in 2022 to 286 in 2023. Juveniles custody silghtly increased to 10, while adult arrests last year totaled 112 compared to 94 in 2022.
The OPD received 118 accident reports in 2023. The primary time for traffic crashes was 3 p.m. with the majority on Fridays. The crashes occurred mostly on state Route 57, followed by High Street, then Crown Hill Road and Market and Vine streets.
Referrals to the Youth Engagement Specialist (Y.E.S) Program witnessed a 50% increase from 2022.
The report acknowledged the effectiveness of community engagement tools, such as the Tip 411 program, which received 89 tips in 2023. The program began in 2014, where residents can send tips anonymously for any unusual activity.
Officers of the year
At the end of the presentation, Seiler announced the 2023 officers of the year.
Dan Sottosanti is the 2023 Wayne Holmes National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year nominee.
“I believe he had responded to six or seven suicidal individuals, and he was able to, without force, get them to the hospital and connect them with the appropriate resources,” Seiler said.
Officer Mathew Amendola and Birkbeck compete over the Wayne County Children Services Officer of the Year.
Finally, Officer Nate Maimone is the OPD Officer of the Year for the seventh time.
The next meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March. 4, at Orrville City Hall.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Depot Park project begins in Orrville, PD officers of year named
