Paez to be Perrysburg’s chief

0

PERRYSBURG – The mayor plans to recommend the city hire its acting police chief for the full-time chief
position.
Mayor Nelson Evans said Wednesday that he will present Lt. Daniel Paez to city council at its Tuesday
meeting for consideration of an appointment to the chief position, from which former Police Chief
Richard Gilts retired last month after 33 years of service.
Council may vote on whether to hire Paez, who has served as acting chief since Gilts’ retirement, as
early as Tuesday if the Personnel Committee approves the hire prior to the council meeting.
Paez would come into the job with nearly 30 years of experience. He previously worked for the Willard
Police Department from 1981-1995 before joining the Perrysburg Police Department.
Evans, who used to serve as chief himself, said he was familiar with Paez’s capabilities and was pleased
with the direction in which the lieutenant would like to take the department. Evans said the decision
was made not to advertise the position outside the department because he wanted save the money and time
the city otherwise would have spent searching when it already had a "very capable" candidate
in-house.
The mayor said Paez planned to provide council with more statistics and measurements when requesting new
hires, to focus on officer training and to enhance the department’s community relations functions.
Paez was promoted to detective bureau supervisor in 2000 and became operations lieutenant in 2004. He
earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia Southern University in
Alabama and an associate degree in criminal justice from North Central Technical College in Mansfield.
He also attended the School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University in Illinois and the
Willard Police Academy.
"I think he brings some experience from another department and has been active here in this
community for awhile and understands our city and our residents and how the police work has changed over
the years and how it’s progressed," Evans said.
Paez said he would strive to continue improving the department while providing the same level of services
despite a restrictive national economy. He said a focus on excellent personnel will help the department
achieve that goal.
Paez said likely priorities for the department would include the creation of a new juvenile detective
position and efforts to enhance its community relations programming.

No posts to display