Greenfield Police Department now serving Madison Township residents

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

The Madison Township trustees have contracted with the Greenfield Police Department for law enforcement services through Dec. 31, 2023, according to Trustee Dan Mathews.

Mathews said the Highland County Sheriff's Office has been notified of this change through certified and regular USPS mail. 

In a letter to Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera dated June 28, Madison Township trustees said: "After much debate and discussion, as of July 1, 2023 the trustees have decided to utilize the Greenfield Police Department for all their law enforcement issues. This will free up deputies from making the 20-minute drive to Greenfield and also allows for a quicker response for our citizens by Greenfield Police. We have discussed this proposal with the Village of Greenfield and they are willing to take on this task. In November, we are trying to pass a levy for said police protection. If the levy fails, we will re-evaluate the situation and contact you." 

According to Greenfield City Manager Todd Wilkin, the township has contracted for Greenfield Police Department services through the end of the year for $40,000. Wilkin said there will be an issue on the Nov. 7 general election ballot for Madison Township to continue the GPD service for law enforcement.

Wilkin said he believes Madison Township residents will see a quicker response time from the Greenfield Police Department; but if they want the service to continue, that will be up to voters on Nov. 7.

"Recently, the Madison Township trustees voted to have a contract with the village for police protection," Wilkin said in an online interview at https://www.greenfieldohio.net/news_detail_T31_R243.php. "This is something the trustees have been in discussions with the village for the last few years relating to citizens not getting the protection as quickly as they need because the sheriff’s department is 20 minutes away, and even then the responding deputy might be coming from the other side of the county. 

"More often than not, the Greenfield Police Department ends up covering anyway. For example, the areas of Oklahoma and Higginsville get our water and sewer, but they are not incorporated into the village, so technically they are in the jurisdiction of the sheriff’s department. While helping with that coverage is something that we have been doing, doing this by contract allows for the resources to be there for the added coverage. 

"This is a six-month contract and the trustees have plans to have this measure on the November ballot for the citizens of Madison Township to weigh in on whether or not they want that police protection from Greenfield. The ballot issue would raise about $300,000, which would provide for the additional police officers and additional equipment. That would all be a part of that revenue. Not only is this a benefit for Madison Township, it is also a benefit for Greenfield citizens because it widens the coverage area which will help prevent drugs from coming into the community. By expanding the jurisdictional boundaries, this will have a regional impact. I’m excited about it because this is going to be a huge benefit to all of Madison Township." 

For accounting purposes, the GPD has added the Madison Township residency on its news releases for police responses outside the village of Greenfield.

The Greenfield Police Department may be contacted at (937) 981-4466. Chief Jim Oyer may be reached at Policechief@greenfieldohio.net. Emergency 9-1-1 calls still go to the Highland County Sheriff's Office for transfer to GPD.