MANSFIELD — Nine new police officers and a new $862,000 command vehicle are scheduled to reach the Mansfield Police Department in the next few weeks.
That was the word Tuesday evening at City Council from Safety Service Director Keith Porch.
The nine new officers, sworn in during August, are expected to graduate in early February from the North Central State College Police Academy. They will spend 14 weeks in the MPD’s field training officer program.
The nine new officers will increase the number of sworn officers in the department to 86, four below authorized staffing levels.
Bammann said the city would seek lateral transfers beginning Feb. 20, open to any current certified law enforcement officers or students currently enrolled in a police academy. He said civil service test for new hires would likely be administered in June.
Construction of the new 38-foot, custom-built, coach-style command center, which lawmakers approved the purchase of in December 2024, has been completed at Farber Speciality Vehicles in Columbus, according to Porch.
“I’m going to go down with (Chief Jason Bammann) and the officers to go over the vehicle. At some point in February, we will probably have an open house for council members to tour the vehicle to see its capabilities and what we have.
“We’re definitely glad that project has been completed,” said Porch, who retired as chief from the MPD before taking the safety service position.
A bit of financial creativity was used to replace a 31-year-old vehicle the city purchased as a used vehicle a decade ago.
It was paid for with $275,779 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and $586,300 from 2024 police salaries that were not spent due to vacant positions in a department still struggling to recruit additional officers.
The new vehicle will be housed at Mansfield Fire Department Station 4 on South Main Street.
When the administration asked council to approve the purchase, Bammann said it would be used for more than just emergencies.
“This is a mobile billboard. This is something the Mansfield Police Department can be proud of and something the community can be proud of also,” Bammann told lawmakers.
“I don’t want this to sit and collect dust,” the chief said. “I want to use this to engage with the community, to engage with children.”
Bammann said the vehicle can be used as a mobile communications/dispatch center that can be divided into three separate rooms, each with multiple video screens on the walls.
The front section would be for department and city leaders. The middle would be occupied by the incident commander, the SWAT commander and the hostage negotiator. The rear compartment would be the communications center, used by 911 dispatchers and others.
In other activity Tuesday, City Council:
— watched the swearing in of 5th Ward Councilman Aurelio Diaz for a second term. New 1st Ward Councilman Mike Miranda, new 3rd Ward Councilwoman Crystal Davis Weese and returning At-large Councilwoman Shari Robertson took oaths of office during the Christmas holidays.
(Below: 5th Ward Councilman Aurelio Diaz, an Independent, was sworn in Tuesday night for his second term in office by Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero, a Republican, and Richland County Common Pleas Court Judge Phil Naumoff, a Democrat. The ceremony took place before the City Council meeting began.)
— heard Porch report that the Mansfield Fire Department had 12,218 calls for service during 2025, 85 percent of which were EMS-related. He said the total calls were up 2.67 percent from 2024.
— unanimously approved a five-year contract with Ring Central to provide cloud-based phone service, replacing Mitel as the provider. The cost will be $9,039.60 per month for a total contract not to exceed $542,376. No council members asked questions about the contract during caucus or the legislative session.
— approved the acceptance of a $300 donation from the Appleseed Valley Veterinary Hospital to purchase “Puppy Life Saver” oxygen masks for the Mansfield Fire Department. The donation will buy six masks, which will be carried aboard rescue squads. Porch said the masks can be used for adult dogs, as well, and also cats.
— approved the acceptance of a $31,555 grant from the Ohio Crime Victims Assistance Office. The funds will be administered by the Law Director’s office during 2026. The grant requires a $7,128 local match.
— approved the city’s submission of an amended annual action plan for HOME-ARP funding, indicating proposed uses for the city’s 2021 HOME Investment Partnership Program Funds.
