Pepper Pike swears in new officer as council meets on equipment and staffing

Unidentified Speaker 1, the meeting’s presiding official, opened the March 27 Pepper Pike City Council meeting by administering the oath of office to Kyle Messina and welcoming family, friends and members of the city’s public safety departments.

The presiding official said Messina grew up locally and recently completed academy and field training work. “We have great confidence in Kyle,” the presiding official said, welcoming him as “an excellent addition to our department.”

Kyle Messina recited the oath, stating, “I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio,” and affirmed that he would “faithfully, honestly, and impartially discharge my duties.”

Later in the meeting, the presiding official told council the administration will seek appropriations this year to hire an 18th police officer, a staffing increase intended to improve patrol coverage and reduce overtime. The presiding official said the position is already accounted for in police ordinances and budget planning.

Council members generally expressed support for the additional hire; one councilor said the change should reduce overtime and help place officers at critical times of day. The council did not take a formal vote on the appropriation at the March 27 meeting; the mayor said the request will come forward in the coming months.

The swearing-in and staffing discussion were presented as routine municipal business; council then moved on to multiple service contracts and ordinance items scheduled for the evening.