Perrysburg Twp. Names Gazarek Chief of Police

LIME CITY – Perrysburg Township has a new chief of police.

At the Oct. 4 meeting, trustees unanimously approved promoting Matt Gazarek from acting chief to chief.

“It has become clear to us that Matt has earned the right to become the next chief of Perrysburg Township,” said Trustee Bob Mack.

Gazarek will receive a 3% pay increase, taking his annual salary to $113,118.

The trustees will hold a ceremony for the promotion at their Nov. 1 meeting.

“I can’t say thank you enough. I accept,” Gazarek said.

Gazarek was named acting chief in August when Mark Hetrick, who had served as chief of police since 2011, retired.

Gazarek started with the department in 2002 as a patrolman.

“It was initially overwhelming but being here as long as I have and knowing the officers the way that I do and working with them as long as I have, I think the transition into chief is going to be seamless,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to it and I hope the officers are as well,” he said.

The North Baltimore native started in Seneca County, working in the jail, before joining the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. He was there for a year before being hired in Perrysburg Township.

Perrysburg Township “is a great place to work,” he said. “There’s not a thing they don’t do to make it easy to come to work every day and do the job that we do.”

“My personal philosophy and the philosophy of the township is that you train your people to move up and take over leadership roles,” said Township Administrator Jon Eckel.

Going outside the department to find a replacement doesn’t speak highly of an organization, he said.

“It’s our job to do that succession training,” Eckel said. “It sends a very positive message to your employees that thy can work hard and move up.”

Also at the meeting, trustees:

Approved the purchase from Vision Quest, Elmore, of unit numbers for the top of police cruisers at a cost of $750.

Gazarek said the numbers are needed now that drones are now in use.

Learned that in September, the fire department responded to 24 calls and EMS to 209.

Agreed to spend $5,000 on an open house planned for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 26711 Lime City Road.

Gave Gary Franks $500 for a memorial plaque for the known and unknown individuals who are buried in Potter’s Field in Fort Meigs Union Cemetery.

Franks had collected $3,000 of the $4,000 necessary for the plaque, and the City of Perrysburg provided the remaining $500, said Trustee Gary Britten.

“He’s a tremendous historian,” Britten said of Franks.