By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
It’s been a number of years since the Bucyrus Police Department could boast that they hired an additional officer to expand their police force. That unfortunate streak ended Tuesday evening when Jo Hornschemeier became Bucyrus Police Department’s 18th officer on the force.
“The reason we’re here tonight is it has a lot to do with the city doing a lot of hard work over the past year,” said Bucyrus Police Chief Dave Koepke.
During this year last year, Koepke has just been sworn in as the city’s newest police chief and was facing a department that was sorely lacking in personnel and money.
“We were in dire straits,” remarked Koepke. “In the meantime, we had to struggle and do the best we can without. I think part of that (sic) dire straits is that all the neighborhoods pulled together and they helped us out along the way in a big way so that we could have a safer city.”
A successful campaign helped to pass the safety forces levy in November, allowing for the police department to replace positions that had opened up due to retirements. Tuesday was the first time the police department was able to increase the size of its force with an additional hire since 2009.
“This is the levy,” Koepke noted. “The police/fire safety levy made this happen.”
Since 2009 the Bucyrus Police Department has had 17 officers or fewer on its force. In 2008 it sustained a staff of 19 but Koepke said some could remember in years past having the luxury of having more than 20 police officers.
“Jo, being sworn in tonight, is a landmark because this is our first additional officer in a long, long time,” Koepke said. “We benefit greatly from all the training and expertise and experience she has. It’s just a great asset to our department and our city to have such an experienced officer join us.”
Hornschemeier comes to Bucyrus after serving on the Hamilton Police Department for seven years. She has been certified Level III in Crash Investigation and has 15 other patrol operations certificates.
Those certifications come as a tremendous asset to the Bucyrus Police Department. Koepke said that a crash investigation officer is not a position that, as a small department, they can fill easily.
Hornschemeier is a graduate of Hamilton High School and Miami University. She is engaged to Ohio State Highway Patrol officer Matt Stahl. She has a three-year-old son, Wyatt.
“I really appreciate everyone who came to support me today. It means a lot to my family and I (sic),” said Hornschemeier. “I love what I do as an officer. The only thing I can say I love more is being a mom. I just look forward to bringing whatever I can to help out the city and to be a good community member as well.”
Koepke said they are currently running background checks on additional officers. New police cruisers are also expected soon.