New Miami mayor: Police patrols will be back

April 30--NEW MIAMI -- The village police department could be insured by the end of this week, and officials will soon begin their search for a new police chief, Mayor Patti Hanes said.

The village is on the hunt for a new police chief after council last week fired former Police Chief Kenny Cheek, who lead the department during the last four years, because he allegedly choked a suspect. Officers have been off patrol since March, when the village was dropped from its insurance plan because of excessive lawsuits and claims. Since then, the village has obtained new coverage, but the police department has been denied for coverage by at least four insurance agencies. Despite those challenges, Hanes said police operations should continue soon.

"Hopefully, we'll have insurance by the end of this week," Hanes said. "We have no intentions of doing away with the police department."

The village has not yet posted for the police chief job -- which paid $40,000 when Cheek was in charge -- but Hanes said she's received 11 unsolicited resumes from candidates who are interested in the position once hiring begins. She said the hiring process would be a "long" one but declined to comment any further on the village's police department or the future police chief.

Village council member Paul Stidham said he believes the mayor will appoint an interim police chief until a new one is hired. He hopes the village hires a chief with an administrative background who takes a "community-oriented" approach to policing the village.

Some village residents told the Journal-News they want to see police crews back on the streets.

Cathleen Campbell, 36, said she worries for the safety of her and her two daughters now that police aren't on patrol in the village.

"I honestly would like to see them continue. They were doing a great job," Campbell said of the village police. "Now, I don't see no cops running around here."

Campbell said she's talked with several of her neighbors about the issue; there's concern about the future of the police department because it disbanded in 2007, amid political turmoil in the village. From 2007 to 2010, the Butler County Sheriff's Office took control of policing New Miami. In 2010, village officials re-launched the volunteer police department with Cheek at the helm.

"I believe, sincerely, we need police protection," said 91-year-old Harold Brown of New Miami. "On-hand protection is much better than the sheriff coming in."

The village council will discuss how to proceed with the police department at 6 p.m. Thursday during a regularly scheduled meeting, Hanes said.

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