The Archbold Police Department has been named the 2021 Archbold Community Supporters of the Year by the Archbold Lions Club and other organizations.
“I think it’s an honor,” said Leo Wixom III, police chief.
“We definitely serve this community with honor and integrity, so it’s an honor to be chosen.”
John Poulson, Lions Club first vice president, said after more than a year of coping with the Coronavirus pandemic, and the support the department provides for the community in general, the honor is deserved.
Last year, the first year of the pandemic, the Lions Club recognized the Archbold Fire Department.
“At that time, we had decided we also wanted to say thank you to the police department. We decided we would do them back-toback,” Poulson said.
“Every spring, for our last Lions Club meeting we do a steak fry where we buy supper for the fire and police departments. We decided we also wanted to do this activity, put them on the front of our birthday calendar for 2022-23, and recognize them here this fall at the Chamber (Archbold Area Chamber of Commerce annual) banquet,” Poulson said.
Helping People
While many see the police as simply handing out traffic tickets, Wixom said there are all kinds of things officers do to help the public.
“Giving directions, helping people change a flat tire, helping people with disabled vehicles. Helping them understand how the law works,” Wixom said.
“A lot of time we get calls on scams, so we inform (the public) on how to deal with a scam someone is trying to do.
“All of that kind of stuff is community helping.
“We put a school resource officer in the schools to help build that community trust with the younger generations that are coming up.
“I continue to hear great things about our school resource officer, and how he’s building that relationship.
“I know that program is working, and we will continue to do what we can to help the community as best we can.”
This is the third full year Nathan Slough has been the school resource officer. Wixom said he’s noticed this year, kids out on their bikes or walking with parents take time to wave at officers.
“That’s something I didn’t see three or four years ago,” he said.
“It’s not just the elementary. The middle school kids are a little older, and they are acknowledging us and waving to us, which for me, is a great feeling, knowing they see us and want to say hi to us.”
Other programs include the department drone– the small, remote-controlled aircraft.
“It’s a public service we can use if someone is missing, or if fire-rescue needs an aerial picture or the engineering department needs a picture. We can do that,” he said.
Some outreach programs, such as Safety City for children and the Bike Rodeo, which teaches children bicycle safety, were postponed by the pandemic.
$1.1 Million
Currently, 11 full-time officers one part-time desk clerk, and four auxiliary officers are on the APD payroll.
The 2020 APD budget was about $1.1 million.
Wixom said the village gets a good value for its investment.
“A lot of that budget is salaries, obviously, and I don’t know how you put a price on safety,” he said.
“One thing I always try to do, just for the safety of my officers, is to always have two officers out because you never know what kind of situation they’re going to get into– when they’re going to need backup.
“I don’t want them to have to wait 10 or 15 minutes for a sheriff deputy or an adjoining community like Stryker or Fayette to come help us.”
Support In Return
The support isn’t just one way.
Wixom said the department receives a lot of support from the community.
The department being named Community Supporters of the Year “shows the community does support us,” he said.
The community, Wixom said, has a good relationship with its police force.
“There will always be a few who do not agree with what we do and how we do it, but for the most part, the relationship is good,” he said.
“It is a tremendous benefit to have the support of the community. We couldn’t do our job well if we didn’t.”– David Pugh