Findlay taps interim chief to lead police department

6/15/2005

FINDLAY Interim police Chief William Spraw, a 25-year veteran of the Findlay police department, has been chosen as the city s new police chief.

Mayor Tony Iriti said yesterday that a five-member board selected Chief Spraw after he and four other candidates completed a lengthy promotion process that included a civil service exam, an assessment conducted by the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, and a round of interviews on Monday.

Chief Spraw, 47, was a captain with the department before taking over as interim chief in January, when long-time chief, Tom Renninger, retired. Chief Spraw will be paid $67,500 a year.

Mayor Iriti said he would like to see the 73-officer department return to more community-oriented policing.

We need to get people back to the standpoint of understanding the police department is truly there to help you, he said.