Town of Oberlin Gets Interim Police Chief

City Manager Robert DiSpirito's office looks out of Oberlin's Municipal Building onto the Southeast quadrant of Oberlin, the town's most crime-stricken section. Last Friday, Sept. 22, was the application deadline for Oberlin's new chief of police. DiSpirito spent time that afternoon talking to the Review.

Ex-chief Robert Jones retired in December, leaving a spot vacant that he had occupied for 20 years. In the meantime, Tom Miller has been working under DiSpirito as interim chief of police.

"I really wanted to have an opportunity to evaluate [Tom] in a real world setting," said DiSpirito, "I knew he had wanted to [try the position] and as captain, Tom was the natural appointment [as interim director]."

Miller is among the 20 to 30 applicants for the position, about four of which are from the Oberlin Police Department. DiSpirito explained that finding someone from within Ohio is critical because the process of familiarizing someone from out-of-state with Ohio law would be time consuming. It is required that the new chief of police be from Ohio.

DiSpirito and his staff mailed questionnaires to each Oberlin resident asking what they hoped the goals of the newly appointed police chief would be. DiSpirito said he was encouraged by the tremendous response he received, and felt that town residents had a focused vision for Oberlin. The proposal drawn up required the chief to manage a staff of 26, a budget of $1.3 million, to regulate traffic and criminal law, to look after the jail, partake in employee hiring and mediation, as well as to maintain constant interaction with the College and town communities.

The job requires a wide range of expertise and responsibility, and the starting salary is between $45,000 and $55,000. The salary may change depending upon the applicant's qualifications, though the minimum requirement is 10 years with the police force and five years in a supervisory position.

"A lot of people have good credentials out there. I would like to see a Œpeople person' come in. One who would communicate well with the office, with expectations of creativity, who would develop skills with the officers and who would definitely get involved with the community," said former chief Jones.

Looking back at Jones, who started with the Oberlin Police force in 1967, one sees a man who moved up to the top by climbing each rung on the ladder. Jones first worked as an officer and dispatcher, then as sergeant and eventually moved into the position as police chief in 1980. Jones retired in December and recently started working as Interim Director of Safety and Security for the College. He also ran for political office as sheriff earlier this year.

"He has such great experience and goodwill on the campus and in the community," Dean of Students Peter Goldsmith told the Oberlin News Tribune on Sept. 19.

Regarding Jones' departure from the police department, DiSpirito said, "I was willing to sign him up for a twenty year extension. He had no contract per se. He chose to retire."

Jones' new interim position with the College lends a sense of bridging the gap between town and College. The Oberlin Police Department does not involve itself with College Safety and Security except in extreme cases.

Instead, the city concentrates on its largest problem, which is drug activity. DiSpirito explained how emphasis has been placed on sustaining a neighborhood crime watch, cooperating with the County Drug Task Force and holding monthly meetings to try to end crime in Oberlin. The next meeting is Oct. 10. at the Rest Church on Groveland and Park St.

Alongside these rehabilitating acts, last year the police successfully shut down what they recognized as a crack house under terms of the "nuisance law." This task was accomplished using new surveillance gear. The house on Groveland St. will remain boarded up for one year.

"We have the third highest crime [rate] in the county, after Lorain and Elyria. Not a lot compared to a large city, but more than most Ohio towns this size. We are such a crossroads, with state routes, the College and a large turnover rate," said DiSpirito.