Civil Service Commission waives testing, approves two part-time police reappointments and establishes eligibility list

At its March 11, 2025 meeting, the Lorain Civil Service Commission voted to waive the testing provision for two exceptional part-time police appointments, approved the appointments, and established an eligibility list of 12 names for the Lorain Police Department.

A motion to waive the testing provision — cited in the meeting as under "Ohio revised code section 124.3082" — passed by voice vote. After the waiver, the Commission considered two exceptional appointments submitted by the Safety-Service Director for Allen Cornwell and Richard Rezendes to fill part-time police officer positions per a statutory authority cited in the record as "Ohio revised code 124.3 a 2." The Commission approved the appointments by motion and voice vote.

Staff described Cornwell as a recently retired lieutenant who served the department from April 1996 until retirement in February and said he had held roles including traffic commissioner and administrative aide to the chief. The record states the department will bring Cornwell back after the statutory 60-day retirement waiting period. The department described Rezendes as a 27-year veteran who later served with the sheriff's office and as a drug investigator and background investigator; staff noted Rezendes is an FBI Academy graduate.

Commissioners asked whether the two appointees would work patrol or administrative duties; staff said they would primarily perform background, paperwork and administrative functions rather than street patrol. The department indicated it has authorized 10 part-time slots and is below that authorization; adding the two hires would bring the part-time complement to about five, by staff recollection.

Separately during the meeting the Commission voted to waive the 72-hour rule to add an item to the agenda and then approved an eligibility list of 12 names for Lorain police officer candidates. The motions to waive the 72-hour rule and to approve the eligibility list passed by voice vote. The meeting record shows one commissioner recorded as opposing the eligibility-list vote; the motion nevertheless passed.

All votes on these items were taken by voice vote and recorded in the public meeting transcript. The meeting record does not list salaries, start dates for the two part-time hires, or the names on the 12-person eligibility list.