Bucyrus PD welcomes new officer to the force

By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter

BUCYRUS — There is a new face on the Bucyrus police force, and his name is Daniel Rufner.

Born in Youngstown, Rufner moved with his family to Willard when he was in the sixth grade.

“I graduated high school in 2015, then attended North Central State College for criminal justice,” Rufner said.

Rufner graduated from the police academy in 2017.

“I have always enjoyed helping people,” Rufner said of his decision to make law enforcement his career. “I am very much a people person.”

Rufner’s official start date at the Bucyrus Police Department was April 9.

Bucyrus Police Chief David Koepke said Rufner is a good fit at the department.

“We are happy to have him on board,” Koepke said.

Koepke said the pool of candidates for police officers is down.

“With the current climate surrounding law enforcement, we just don’t have very many candidates,” Koepke said.

Koepke said the department is authorized to have 22 officers on staff.

“Daniel brings us to 18 officers,” Koepke said. “We have another candidate that is still going through the process, and the person will replace Sam Caldwell who recently retired.”