Delaware City Civil Service Commission approves October police and firefighter certified lists, hears staffing update and notes death of former captain

The Delaware City Civil Service Commission on Oct. 1 approved certified hiring lists for the police and fire departments and accepted minutes from two prior civil service meetings.

The actions formally clear candidates for hiring and update the commission on staffing: Police Chief Moore told the commission six officers have been hired since August, three are attending the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy and three began training at the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Academy this week. Chief Moore said the department’s authorized strength is 60 and that a recent recruit resigned during field training, leaving four current openings.

The approvals matter because they affect near-term staffing for public safety agencies in Delaware City. Chief Moore described the hires and remaining vacancies as part of an ongoing recruitment effort and urged budgeting for positions above the authorized head count to maintain operational strength.

Chief Moore told commissioners the updated police certified list reflects candidates who participated in the process through September and notes several names removed for not completing parts of testing or who were interviewed and deemed not hireable. “So our budgeted authorized strength is 60,” Moore said. He added that three recruits are at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy and are due to graduate in January or February, and three who started at the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Academy this week are expected to graduate in six months. Moore also reported that a recruit in field training resigned, leaving the department with four current openings and about 75 employees total. He recommended that the budget authorize more than 60 positions to offset routine attrition.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the police certified list after a motion and second. The commission also unanimously approved the October firefighter certified list. Fire Chief Pyle told the commission the firefighter list reflects one member hired and several names removed because of the list’s year-long timeframe.

During staff comments the commission was told that former Police Captain James “Jim” Rose, who retired in February 2005, died earlier in the month after a medical emergency; the notice was entered for the record. No public comments were received during the meeting. The commission adjourned at 3:37 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Approved — civil service minutes (June 4, 2025); Approved — civil service minutes (July 2, 2025); Approved — October 2025 police certified list; Approved — October 2025 firefighter certified list.