DEPARTMENT HISTORY
Ridgeville Township was first settled in 1810 by settlers from Waterbury, Connecticut. The township was organized in 1813 and remained Ridgeville Township until 1958, when it was incorporated as a village. During this time, various types of police protection, which included Constables, Deputy Sheriffs and the State Highway Patrol, were utilized. In August 1960, the population was sufficient to allow the township to become the City of North Ridgeville, at which time a new city council was formed, and a permanent police department replaced the previous Township Constable.
The first officer appointed was Emory C. Hershey, who had served as Constable from 1944 until 1959, and served as Chief of Police from 1960 until 1965. The first Patrolman, Thomas P. Richards, was appointed in October of 1959. At that time, the police department did not even have its own police car, and both Hershey and Richards used their own private vehicles as patrol cars. In 1960, the city purchased a fully equipped police cruiser and added two more patrolmen to the police force. The police Department operated out of a house on the north side of Center Ridge Road, just west of SR 83.
In 1961, a citizens committee was formed, and the police department was presented with a fully equipped 1961 Chevrolet police cruiser. Prior to this, officers drove their own vehicles on patrol. With the addition of a second car to the department, a new problem arose. There was no garage space for the new cars. As a result, a portion of the city garage was remodeled and utilized by the police department.
In 1965 the department transitioned from a part-time agency to full time. Thomas Richards was appointed to lead as Chief, succeeding Emory Hershey, who was unable to leave his full-time civilian job and accept the position.
By 1971, the Police Department consisted of a Chief, one Sergeant, one Inspector and six Patrolmen. As the city continued to develop, so did the department, adapting and evolving with the significant growth of the city. In 1975 all city government offices, including the Police Department, moved into the current city hall complex. As funding and resources became available, additional personnel were hired, and equipment was updated.
By the 1990s the Police Department had outgrown its facilities, and in 1996 the building underwent an addition and major renovation, bringing the facility into ADA compliance and making other needed improvements.
In 2021, North Ridgeville voters approved a bond issue to construct a $11.2 million police station. Construction began for the new facility early 2023. On March 18, 2024, the 41 full time police officers and 8 non-sworn personnel relocated to the new 21,458 square foot building located at 7070 Ranger Way, next door to the North Ridgeville Fire Station, and across from the North Ridgeville Academic Center and High School. The new property includes a 7,800 square foot metal storage building used for evidence processing, training, found property, gear storage and indoor/outdoor kennels that will provide a temporary home for lost dogs.
In 2024, City council approved new cruisers and combined with the unmarked vehicles this brings the total to 44 vehicles in the fleet.
The members of the Police Department are proud of our history serving the citizens of North Ridgeville, and are constantly planning for the future so we can continue to provide the level of service the citizens deserve and have come to expect.