Council hires police leaders in Stryker

7/28/2005

STRYKER, Ohio - Next month the village of Stryker should have both a police chief and an assistant police chief on duty for the first time since last fall.

Village Council on Monday unanimously hired Dan Hughes, a former Williams County sheriff's deputy from the Montpelier area, as chief and Steve Schlosser, a Montpelier police officer, as assistant chief.

Police work in the village of 1,400 people has been done mostly by five part-time officers because the former chief and the assistant chief suffered heart attacks last fall.

Former chief Merlin Hageman retired May 31 after 10 years as chief. Former assistant chief Todd Shock died unexpectedly in December.

"We're all looking forward to getting back to a normal routine," village fiscal officer Beth Clemens said.

Chief Hughes, who started immediately, and Assistant Chief Schlosser, who is to start Aug. 14, were chosen from four applicants for the jobs, Ms. Clemens said.