MANSFIELD — Mansfield police Chief Jason Bammann said north central Ohio drug dealers knew Lt. Stephen Blust.
That’s high praise for a Mansfield police officer who devoted much of his career to the METRICH Enforcement Unit, a multi-county operation devoted to stopping the flow of illegal drugs into 10 area counties.
Though he wasn’t in attendance Wednesday night at City Council, Blust was honored for 34 years of service to the MPD, a career that officially ended May 1.
Local lawmakers met a day later than normal due to the primary election on Tuesday.
After the meeting, Bammann said, “Lt. Blust …. I just want to say 34 years here at the police department … that’s unheard of these days and to do it in the capacity that he did speaks volumes.”
Blust joined the MPD in 1992 as a patrol officer assigned to the community service bureau. He was promoted to sergeant in 2015 and to lieutenant in May 2022.
Blust was selected the MPD’s “Officer of the Year” in 1998, “Detective of the Year” in 2003 and “Supervisor of the Year” in 2016. He worked in METRICH for nearly two decades, the last several years as the officer in charge.
“His retirement is a huge loss to the department. Of course, that’s me being selfish, because he has definitely earned a peaceful, enjoyable retirement for him and his family.
“He is deeply missed already,” the chief said.
“We’ll just say that the drug dealers — while they were operating their businesses — Steve Blust was one that they were consistently looking for,” Bammann said.
He also served as a field training officer and was a certified computer voice stress
analyzer examiner. From 1998 to 2008, Blust served as a member of the department’s SWAT Team.
“After more than three decades of dedicated service, Lieutenant Blust leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, leadership, and commitment to the citizens he served and the officers he mentored,” according to the resolution adopted Wednesday by city lawmakers.
METRICH was formed in 1986 as a cooperative effort of the MPD, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and the Richland County Prosecutor’s office.
An acronym born from Metro-Richland County, the original idea was to share resources and intelligence, reducing the risk of duplicating investigations and planning drug raids on the same locations.
It has since grown into a drug task that includes law enforcement agencies in Ashland, Knox, Crawford, Morrow, Wyandot, Huron, Hancock, Marion and Seneca counties, a cooperative effort that seeks federal and state funding together.
Bammann said Lt. Ryan Grimshaw, who joined the MPD in 2007, will take over duties operating METRICH. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2024.
Grimshaw has a bachelor’s degree focused in criminal investigations from Bellevue University and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Tiffin University.
“Ryan will be filling those humongous shoes that Steve left. I am excited to see Ryan grow and prosper in this position and do the same things. But there will only ever be one Steve Blust,” Bammann said.
Grimshaw has led the department’s community action team, formed in 2022 and used to help combat violent crime in the city. He has worked at METRICH in the past, gaining experience in surveillance, drug investigations and working with search warrants.
“The CAT has always worked closely with METRICH and major crimes. Those three units are definitely making a huge impact,” Bammann said.
