I am Robert O. Hollis, Chief of Police in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. We are located in Wyandot County, about sixty miles north of Columbus, and sixty miles south of Toledo on US 23. Thank you for stopping at our web page!
It is my hope that as you visit this page you will learn a little bit more about our community in Upper Sandusky, and about the Officers on my department. When you are finished here I would suggest you visit the web page for the city of Upper Sandusky. It has more information about the community of Upper Sandusky along with some photos of our parks.
I transferred from a larger department in the north to Upper Sandusky for the quality of life this community offers.
I am a firm believer in Community Oriented Policing. We strive for our officers to be problem solvers and ambassadors for the city of Upper Sandusky.
Our goal is to have Upper Sandusky remain a safe and friendly community in which to live or visit.
Please return from time to time, as we add more information and updates to our website. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me at chief@udata.com and I will personally answer them.
Regards,
Chief Robert O. Hollis
Administration: Chief Captain
Operations: 2 Lieutenants 9 OFFICERS 4 Dispatchers Parking Control Officer
As of 01/01/2000 we currently have a force of 13 officers. Cities of comparable size would have 12-16 officers. In order to be a 24 hour/7 day agency, Officers work 12 hour shifts, and put in several hundred more hours than the standard 2080. Average base salary is $24,000. Officers are required to handle all situations and investigations with minimal assistance. A high level of community concern is required for anyone considering applying to this agency.
1. When I make a complaint is my name going to be in the local paper? How important is your complaint to you? The department has roughly 40 thousand contacts per year. If your complaint becomes a formal action involving the loss of property or the possibility of criminal charges against another, it may very well appear in the newspaper. The newspaper and radio also may make note of a significant accident. In the end, the media will make use of what it deems important enough to pass on.
2.If I sign a criminal charge against another, will I have to appear in court? If the defendant/s in your case plead not guilty, you will have to appear in court. If the defendant pleads no contest or guilty, you may also expect to be contacted concerning a pre- sentence investigation.
3.When I see an emergency vehicle with its lights and siren going, what am I expected to do? Get out of the way, slow down, pull to the right,- after the vehicle has passed, you may continue on. Failure to do so may result in a costly citation for you and a delay in the service to someone who needs it. The next call may involve you or someone you love. Yes, sometimes seconds do count.
4.If I get a traffic ticket and think I was in the right, what should I do? Consider the facts first, put opinions aside for a minute. If you still think the officer made a mistake, fight it, go to court and plead not guilty. Often though some people can be unreasonable. They may not understand that residential streets are 25MPH, that stop bars are there for a reason, and a yellow light means that the intersection light WILL turn red, and THAT was the opportunity to stop.
5.Do I have to give my name when I call to complain about something? It would be nice as often any criminal case arising from your complaint has more validity when the complaining person is known.
6.I had an accident and the other person was at fault and didn't have insurance. How is this going to be taken care of? The Police take a report for the State of Ohio for certain crashes. They may summons or arrest persons for violations of Ohio or City law. The Police are not representatives of your insurance company. The report can and is often used by your agent as the basis of information for his reports. If the other party is charged with an offense related to your crash and does not have insurance, it is noted on the citation for the court to notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles after confirming this with the defendant in court. Payment for loss is a process handled between you, your agent, BMV and sometimes the court.
7.Do I have to give my name and identification when a policeman asks for it? If the Officer is acting in an official capacity such as a complaint investigation, failure to do so will result in your arrest for Obstruction of Justice. Keep in mind that the recording of your information can minimize confusion, and actually protect your interests.
Records of accidents, complaints, criminal histories can be retrieved from our office at any time. should you have a request that will involve time to collect and copy, you should call ahead. Records within the last two years would normally be available immediately. Types of records not available would include those currently under investigation.
The Seven Core Elements of Community Oriented Policing
#1 Develop a Police Philosophy of True Police/Community Partnership
#2 Practice Open C.O.P. Police Management Style
#3 Establish a Problem-Solving Orientation
#4 Facilitate C.O.P. / Citizen Involvement
#5 Promote Permanent Ownership of Beat areas
#6 Prepare Local Police Officers to Serve as Neighborhood Leaders and Resource Organizers
#7 Maintain a Personal Relationship between Police Officers and Communities
LINKS