After 8 years, full-time police chief heads Walbridge force

4/6/2011

After about eight years, Walbridge once again has a full-time police chief.

Jerusalem Township native Kenneth Frost, 38, started the $47,000-a-year job last month. Doing more community-oriented policing, including walking the beat, is his biggest priority, he said.

"We want to provide a better service to the community," Chief Frost said.

The police department has five full-time officers, five part-time officers, and a contingent of auxiliary members.

Walbridge had a few part-time police chiefs for eight years, initially because officials couldn't find the right person and later to help save money, Mayor Dan Wil- czynski said.

The village's police department is young and needed more guidance than a part-time chief could provide, he said.

"We wanted to get a little more stability and just a little bit more hands-on leadership," Mayor Wilczynski said.

Walt Tylicki, Walbridge's last part-time police chief, remains with the department on a part-time basis.

There were a number of good applicants for the job, but Chief Frost demonstrated a willingness to jump in and had good experience, he said.

Most recently, Mr. Frost was safety-service coordinator and chief law-enforcement officer for the Sandusky County Park District for three years. He was a Fremont police officer for 10 years before that.

For his part, Chief Frost said he wanted to work closer to where he grew up.

"I really like the community," said the Clay High School graduate.

"Obviously, my roots are here," he added. "My heart is here in northwest Ohio, and that's where I want to spend the rest of my career in law enforcement."