Our Staff - Vermilion Police Department

Our Staff

Full-Time

Serving since 04/10/1999
Chief Hartung has been a member of the Vermilion Police Department since 1999. He started his career as a COPS Officer and spent much of his time in the VOL area at the YMCA community services office. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2002 and served in that capacity until his promotion to Chief in 2011. Chief Hartung has been a certified DARE officer since 2001 and sits on the State selection panel for future DARE officers for the OACP. He has both the basic and advanced certifications in Crisis Intervention through the NORD center. He served as a Military Police Officer from 1990 to 2003 in the National Guard and served in various duty stations from Germany, Fort Bragg, Panama as well as the Lucasville Prison riots in 1993.

Sergeant Gordon Adams Sgt Gordon Adams is a 24 year veteran of the Vermilion Police Department. He worked in the capacity of Patrolman, and then was moved to the position of Detective for one year. He then was assigned to the Lorain and Erie County Drug Task Force units for 2 years. Sgt. Adams has been a member of the Lorain County SWAT Team for 22 years. He also has been a Computerized Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA) operator for 18 years. He is a certified Marine Patrol Officer, working on the police boat for over 23 years, and currently is in charge of the Vermilion Police Marine Patrol Unit. Sgt. Adams is also a member of the Lorain County Sheriffs Office, Homeland Security Detail and assists with the Sheriffs NBI Watercraft Unit.

Sergeant Steve Davis

Sergeant Jeff Chandler

Serving since 07/29/1989

Sgt. Jeff Chandler association with the Vermilion Police Department began in 1981, when the department launched its Law Enforcement Explorer program. He joined the Police Explorer Post #425 and served as captain of the post for 2 years. Having reached the age limit for the Police Explorers he became and associate advisor for the post. in 1983 he was hired by the Vermilion Police Department as a part time Patrolman, becoming the first ever police explorer to be hired by the Police Department.

Sgt Chandler served the Department as a part time Patrolman until 1989 at which time he was hired as a full time Patrolman. Shortly after becoming a full time Patrolman he received training as a Watercraft Officer and was assigned to the Vermilion Harbor Patrol. In 1997 he was assigned to the Erie County Drug Task Force where he worked as a Detective for 3 years. In 2000 he was promoted to Sergeant and came back to the police department where he was assigned as a Shift Supervisor, which to date, is his current assignment.

Sergeant James Graham
Serving since 04/03/2001
Sergeant January 2011, Bachelor’s Degree from Bowling Green State University in Sociology, Bike Officer, F.T.O, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Knife Defense Instructor.

Sergeant Aaron Bolton
Serving since 12/12/1998

Corporal Ricky Riggs
Serving since 07/21/1986

Corporal Dean Mayer
Serving since 09/02/1989

Corporal Dan Shupe
Serving since 05/08/2001

Corporal Scott Holmes

Serving since 11/10/2001

K-9 Handler, Marine Patrol Officer, Firearms Instructor, Glock Armorer

Patrolman Dave Jones
Serving since 01/03/2001

Patrolman Corey Spores

Serving since 12/14/2008

In December of 2007 he was hired by the Vermilion Police Department as a part-time patrolman, the following December he was hired full-time. Prior to coming to the Vermilion Police Department, he worked for the Lorain County Metro Parks as a Law Enforcement Ranger. He has been commissioned Law Enforcement Officer since October of 2004. He graduated from Owen’s Community College Police Academy in August of 2004. Prior to enrolling in the police academy he had earned two Associate degrees from Hocking College in the field of Natural Resources and Recreational Wildlife.

Patrolman Craig Howell

Serving since 02/28/2009

14 years of Law Enforcement experience, Veteran of the U.S. Army, Presently serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve

Patrolman Dale Reising
Serving since 01/12/2007 Part-time Officer 01/12/2009 Full-time Officer 01/31/2011

Patrolman Steve Kopniske

Serving since Part-time Full-time

Officer Kopniske was born and raised in Parma, OH. He has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Kent State University, and attended the Ohio State Highway Patrol Basic Police Academy.

Patrolman Sean Bailey
Serving since Part-time Full-time

Full-time Dispatcher

Dispatch Supervisor - Terminal Agency Coordinator
Serving since May 2004
Selected by City of Vermilion for a 2004 Law Enforcement Internship with Leadership Lorain County.

After completion of 10 week internship, hired as a part-time dispatcher in August 2004.

Hired as full time dispatch in September 2006.

Promoted to Terminal Agency Coordinator/Supervisor in January 2011.

Attending University of Toledo for Criminal Justice/Psychology.

Dispatcher Jamie sure
Serving since 01/21/1986

Dispatcher Dave James

Dispatcher Rich Labis
Serving Since

Administrative Assistant
Serving Since 06/02/1998

Part-Time Officers

Patrolman Gary Glover
Serving since 05/25/1990

Patrolman Greg Stark
     Serving since 01/10/1994

Patrolman Mike Fink
Serving since 07/25/1998

Patrolman Van Mis
Serving since 09/26/1998

Patrolman Melvin Jenkins
    Serving since 09/26/1998

Patrolman Dennis Terry
    Serving since 08/28/2007

Patrolman Larry Miller

    Serving since 07/25/1998

Patrolman/Dispatcher Danielle Mcglothlin

    Serving since 11/26/2008

Part-time Dispatchers

Dispatcher Melody Leisure
Serving since 09/23/2002

Dispatcher Pete Burgos
Serving since 10/28/2003

Dispatcher Cindy Stepp
    Serving since 09/01/2006 Retired from Full-time

Dispatcher Courtney Gainer
    Serving since 12/15/2008

Dispatcher Lisa Nemeth
   Serving since

Chaplain Wally Metter

Chaplain Mike Levelle

Auxiliary

Soon.