New chief hired to rebuild Ross police department

Credit: Nick Daggy

Credit: Nick Daggy


ABOUT ROSS TWP.’S NEW POLICE CHIEF

Darryl Haussler was hired Jan. 2, 2014, to be the new police chief of Ross Twp. in southern Butler County.

His background:

  • June 2013 to January 2014: corporate security officer, American Financial Group;
  • 1991 to June 2013: Delhi Twp. Police Department, Hamilton County. Retired as lieutenant in June 2013;
  • April 1988 to July 1991: police officer, Colerain Twp.;
  • U.S. Army veteran;
  •   Attended School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University Center for Public Safety;
  • Associate's degree of technical study – law enforcement from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College; and
  • Bachelor's degree double majoring in management and ethics, and biblical studies from Cincinnati Christian University.

After voters in this township of 8,300 passed in fall 2013 a levy to fund police services, their money is paying for a new police chief, new uniforms and the hiring of more officers.

Ross Twp. looks to reinstate 24-hour police services, the new chief said.

Budgets strained, Ross Twp. in August 2012 had cut its full-time police force to part-time. The department would have dissolved leading into the fall 2013 election, if voters did not pass a levy to fund the department.

Voters responded in favor of keeping local police services, passing the levy, which generates approximately $508,000 to run the division this year. The police department is now self-sustaining, with all the money paying for operations coming from the levy on property owners in the township, said Bob Bass, township administrator.

A new police chief was hired January 2, Bass said. The new chief, Darryl Haussler, said he’s in the process of rebuilding the department, hoping to restore around-the-clock services and re-establish relationships with surrounding police forces in Hamilton, Fairfield, Colerain Twp. and Butler County.

“They were looking for someone to kind of come in and rebuild the department,” Haussler said. “I’ve been given that opportunity and I look forward to the challenge that comes along with that.”

Haussler is the only full-time officer, and oversees eight part-time officers, plus two auxiliary officers. He’s in the process of hiring five to six more part-time staff, with the goal of having one officer on duty at all times and two at busy times during the summer, for example.

Among the hires will be Ross Twp.’s first school resource officer — an armed police person to work at Ross Local School District, Haussler said. The resource officer’s wages will be half paid by the school district and half by the police department, Haussler said.

Changes residents should notice include new uniforms to help “build a professional image,” Haussler said. “Residents can expect officers to respond professionally, with integrity, with a service-minded approach to their duties.”

Former Ross Police Chief Ben Kramer retired in May 2013. Mike Broughton was named interim chief before the levy vote, and was interim until January. He applied to be chief on a permanent basis, but township trustees chose Haussler for the position, Bass, the local government administrator, said. Broughton is still with the department, Bass said.

Haussler retired in 2013 after a more than 25 year police career. He started as an officer for the Colerain Twp. Police Department from 1988 to 1991.

From midway through 1991 to June 2013, Haussler worked for Delhi Twp. Police Department in Hamilton County where he lives. He worked his way up from a patrol officer in Delhi Twp. to retire as a lieutenant supervising 21 patrol officers.

As one of the lieutenants, he said he would help fill-in as acting chief for the Delhi Twp. police chief.

As chief of Ross, Haussler is paid $58,000 a year, Bass said.

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