Trustees move to create police chief post and set swearing-in date

Norwich Township trustees voted this summer to create and fill a township police chief position to bring the township’s police district into compliance with the Ohio Revised Code. The motion, made by Trustee Webster D. Junk and seconded by Trustee D. L. Workman, passed unanimously after a presentation from the County Prosecutor’s Office.

The board’s action followed advice from Mr. Ray of the County Prosecutor’s Office that the township needed an appointed police chief to meet statutory requirements for the police district. "This Board resolves to hire a police chief to be in compliance with the Ohio Revised Code," Mr. Junk said during the meeting; the motion was approved on a recorded vote with all trustees voting 'Aye.'

The board later moved to appoint Jerry Kaltenback to the position. Trustees set a swearing-in ceremony for July 29, 1977, at 7:00 p.m. The board directed that recommendations on salary and final contract terms be presented to trustees for approval at a subsequent meeting; the transcript records the salary and some drafting details as to be negotiated or recorded but does not specify a final salary amount.

Why it matters: the appointment establishes a named official to oversee police-district duties the prosecutor’s office said are required under state law, affecting how police activity and crime reporting for the township will be coordinated and documented.

What’s next: trustees asked for a formal recommendation on salary, duties and reporting before finalizing the employment contract; they scheduled follow-up in an upcoming meeting. The appointee’s swearing-in date was recorded on the board calendar and public notification was to be handled by the clerk.