Trustees welcome back retired officer
By Mike D’Agruma
SPRINGFIELD — Al Morhidge is officially back where he belongs, as an officer in the Springfield Police Department.
The 62-year-old was sworn in during the Springfield Township Board of Trustees April 13 meeting.
According to Police Chief Dave Hoover, Morhidge technically retired from the police department in 1998 after 24 years of service. Technically retired, because his time spent away from duty could almost be construed as a leave of absence. In 2003, the department called Morhidge back to do security work in the department’s temporary home in Sawyerwood Elementary School during the construction of the new administrative offices. When the department moved into its current home, Morhidge volunteered to take a maintenance position to continue working with his friends in the department.
“They say once you’re in law enforcement, it gets in your blood and you just can’t get rid of it, even if you retire,” Hoover said. “And that’s what happened here.”
Hoover said Morhidge approached him and asked if the department would consider hiring him as a part-time officer, provided he went back to the police academy and fulfilled all of the requirements to graduate.
Morhidge didn’t just meet
his requirements for graduation — he surpassed
them. According to Hoover, he received awards for perfect
attendance, top physical fitness in his class and the
Commander’s Award, which is given to the cadet
who exemplifies certain outstanding qualities. He added
the Commander’s Award was the highest
given during the graduation ceremony.
“I’d like to thank
Chief Hoover, the board of trustees for the opportunity
to again serve the Springfield residents,” Morhidge
said. “It is indeed an honor, and I love you,
Springfield.”
Hoover said Morhidge will work
in the area of community policing.
The trustees also heard from
new Zoning Inspector Nick Campanelli. Campanelli, who
served as Plain Township’s zoning director for
11 years, said he was excited about new challenges in
Springfield.
“This being my first meeting,
I’d like to begin by thanking the board of trustees
for the opportunity to serve the residents of Springfield
Township,” Campanelli said. “I’m looking
forward to working with all the employees here and hopefully
making a positive impact
on the zoning department.”
Campanelli proposed a set meeting
schedule for the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and Zoning
Commission, which he said would put residents on the
same page as board members. The BZA will now meet on
the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m., while
the commission will meet the first Wednesday of the
month at 5 p.m. Both meetings will take place in the
Administrative Board Room located at 2459 Canfield Road.
In other business, the trustees:
• approved the purchase
of a Dura Patcher, used in road repair, for the road
department. The cost of the machine is $54,276 and will
save the township money in the long run, according to
Highway Superintendent Richard Kaylor.
• approved a joint purchase
of commercial quality exercise equipment for the training
room, not to exceed $12,500, with funding provided by
the administration, police and fire departments. Trustee
Chairman Bruce Killian said the equipment currently
in use is an assortment of home gym equipment;
• approved the purchase
of two 2007 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors
for a total of $39,894. The cars will be delivered in
October;
• announced that the police
department will be using eBay, at www.ebay.com,
to auction items. The seller identification for the
police department is stpd04; and
• announced there will be
an antique car cruise-in from noon to 4 p.m. during
the Springfield/Lakemore Community
Day May 6 at the Tri-County Plaza on Canton Road. Trustee
Vince Mealy said there will be no charge and that the
first 100 cars will get a free plaque. [See
Page 5 for
related story.]
The next regular board meeting
will take place May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Administrative
Board Room.
Officer Al Morhidge, at far left, is sworn in by Springfield Trustee Vince Mealy, at right, during the Springfield Board of Trustees April 13 meeting as Police Chief Dave Hoover, near left, looks on. Photo: Mike D’Agruma
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