Police chief to retire Aug. 7; council advances staffing, hiring‑age and residency changes
June 19, 2026 | London City Council, London, Madison County, Ohio
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Council members were updated on construction at the new police facility and moved several staffing and personnel policy changes forward.
A council speaker said exterior concrete work and sidewalks at the new police facility have advanced and that utility and parking remediation work is expected to be finished soon; the building dedication remains scheduled for July 30. The mayor and members also reported active recruitment and candidate processing for police positions and said one candidate would be selected as police chief the first week of July, with the outgoing chief’s retirement effective August 7.
On personnel policy, the council adopted measures that affect recruiting and service recognition: Ordinances 143‑26 and 144‑26 set the maximum age for original firefighter and police appointments such that original appointments must be made before a candidate’s 41st birthday (police minimum appointment age remains 21). Resolution 145‑26 revised job descriptions to reflect the new residency and hiring rules and added descriptions for positions including police detective and police canine officer.
Council also passed Resolution 137‑26, which authorizes the police chief to transfer a primary duty weapon to a retiring, disabled or deceased officer for $1 after a minimum of 10 years of service; Resolution 138‑26 creates a parallel authority for the fire chief to gift a helmet and badge on similar terms. Staff emphasized these are administrative property transfers and not changes to policing operations.
Next steps and follow up: the police department will continue candidate processing, advertise upcoming civil‑service examinations (sergeants), and schedule the police facility dedication for July 30. Staff will implement the revised job descriptions and update recruitment materials accordingly.
A council speaker said exterior concrete work and sidewalks at the new police facility have advanced and that utility and parking remediation work is expected to be finished soon; the building dedication remains scheduled for July 30. The mayor and members also reported active recruitment and candidate processing for police positions and said one candidate would be selected as police chief the first week of July, with the outgoing chief’s retirement effective August 7.
On personnel policy, the council adopted measures that affect recruiting and service recognition: Ordinances 143‑26 and 144‑26 set the maximum age for original firefighter and police appointments such that original appointments must be made before a candidate’s 41st birthday (police minimum appointment age remains 21). Resolution 145‑26 revised job descriptions to reflect the new residency and hiring rules and added descriptions for positions including police detective and police canine officer.
Council also passed Resolution 137‑26, which authorizes the police chief to transfer a primary duty weapon to a retiring, disabled or deceased officer for $1 after a minimum of 10 years of service; Resolution 138‑26 creates a parallel authority for the fire chief to gift a helmet and badge on similar terms. Staff emphasized these are administrative property transfers and not changes to policing operations.
Next steps and follow up: the police department will continue candidate processing, advertise upcoming civil‑service examinations (sergeants), and schedule the police facility dedication for July 30. Staff will implement the revised job descriptions and update recruitment materials accordingly.
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