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Police: calls and traffic enforcement rose in 2025; city eligible for traffic safety grant
Summary
Police Chief Nesbitt reported increases in calls for service and traffic enforcement in 2025 and told council the department is eligible for an Ohio traffic safety grant aimed at addressing high injury‑accident counts. Council approved a related ordinance later in the meeting.
Police Chief Nesbitt presented the department’s 2025 annual report to council, detailing year‑over‑year increases in calls for service and traffic enforcement contacts while outlining community partnerships and training initiatives.
"In 2025, we really drove home the concept of professionalism and pride," Chief Nesbitt said, describing staffing and policy changes. He reported a 4.2% increase in calls for service over 2024 and said calls were up 9.3% since 2016. The department logged 3,427 traffic enforcement contacts in 2025 — roughly a 27% increase over 2024 — and recorded about 868 reported auto accidents, 265 of which involved injuries.
Nesbitt highlighted programs including a hotel liaison (credited with a 29% drop in hotel‑related calls), a citizens police academy, a DARE program, partnerships with Kroger for community assistance, and awards recognizing department work. He also described a staffing study conducted with the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police that affirmed community confidence and recommended succession and staffing guidelines.
Separately, Safety Service Director Lucas and Chief Nesbitt said the city received notification of eligibility for an Ohio traffic safety grant to help address the injury auto‑accident rate and two 2025 fatalities; staff requested permission to access the funds and to amend appropriations. Council later moved to accept the grant via ordinance 2026‑34 (first and only reading after a rule suspension).
