Tiffin near police chief choice

TIFFIN -- Mayor Aaron Montz said he expects to announce a new city police chief within two weeks.

The pool of candidates for the position has been narrowed to three, including Toledo police Deputy Chief George Taylor, Tiffin Lt. Fred Stevens, and Michael Clancey, chief of police in Saluda, S.C.

"All three, of course, had very sterling recommendations written about them," Mayor Montz said.

Lieutenant Stevens has been Tiffin's interim police chief since February, when David LaGrange left to become the Waterville police chief.

Mayor Montz said a nationwide search yielded a pool of seven candidates that was reduced to four, then to the three finalists.

Deputy Chief Taylor, 55, was hired by Toledo police in 1982. He could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Lieutenant Stevens has served the Tiffin Police Department for about 20 years, starting as a patrolman and working through the ranks, Mayor Montz said.

Chief Clancey was formerly the chief at College Station, Texas.

The mayor said Tiffin, with a population of about 20,000, has 26 patrol officers, plus command officers and detectives. The department is authorized to have 31 police officers.

Mayor Montz said the city's biggest crime problems include burglary and theft. The chief's salary was not available Thursday night, but the mayor said he hopes the next permanent officer will be able to "hit the ground running."

He also wants the chief to foster better relationships between officers and college students in Tiffin.

"The ultimate underlying goal, the most important, is leadership skills and the ability to have respect in the department," Mayor Montz said.

--Taylor Dungjen