Cridersville council accepts police chief’s resignation, approves vacation payout and authorizes hiring process

The Cridersville village council on April 26 accepted the resignation of Police Chief Fried, approved payment of his three weeks of accrued vacation under the old policy and voted to proceed with hiring a new chief using the job description presented to the council.

The actions came at a special meeting called by Mayor Rick Walls that drew several residents who questioned whether the village has done enough to staff the police department and to finish security upgrades after vandalism at a new park pavilion.

Solicitor Jim Hearn told the council that, under the old personnel policy, Chief Fried would retain three weeks of vacation pay but would not keep additional benefits once any new policy is adopted. Committee member Bailey moved to accept the resignation; Dorance Thompson seconded the motion, which passed 6-0. Later, Council Member Eric West moved to pay Fried the three weeks of vacation; that motion passed 5-1.

Residents pressed the council for explanations. Jim Boday asked, "Why is Chief Fried resigning?" and suggested money earmarked for uptown building work could have been redirected to hire part-time officers. Mayor Rick Walls responded that part-time officers are not applying and are currently a scarce resource. Fiscal Officer Darci Motter said installation of park cameras has been delayed by internet connectivity problems and the need to order extra parts, and that the village will finish installations once parts arrive.

Council debate and public comment centered on staffing levels, pay and recruitment. Council Member Dylan Lauck noted the pay package previously approved gave the chief authority to hire up to 15 part-time officers without council approval but said the chief had not advertised or used that authority. Bailey said he believed Fried was resigning because "he was sick of being micromanaged by the council." Resident and former officer Austin Hardin countered that assertion, saying he recently completed the academy and that pay differences (he cited $23 an hour locally versus $29 an hour in nearby Lima) affect recruitment.

Eric West outlined department budget figures, saying the 2024 budget for the police department was $620,000 with roughly $480,000 spent, and that the 2025 budget was set at $519,000. West also said overtime spending has been significant in early 2025 and reminded the room that an income-tax–based levy was passed to help the police budget.

Residents urged the council to prioritize practical support for officers. Beverly Wood said council roadblocks make it difficult to retain staff and asked councilors to work with Nathan and other officers. Elizabeth Fried, identified as Chief Fried’s wife, described the last two years as "incredible but taxing for our family," said the department cannot provide full coverage with four full-time officers and one part-time officer, and urged better alignment between the council and the department to reduce turnover.

On hiring, Council Member Eric West moved to use the job description presented to council as the basis for hiring a new chief; Shaun Wenrick seconded the motion and it passed 6-0. The meeting concluded with a call for transparency from some residents and a motion to adjourn that passed unanimously.

The council did not set a public timeline for interviews or the next hiring steps at the meeting; the accepted motions and the approved job description are the record of formal action from the April 26 special meeting.