Setting up for success

FOSTORIA --- A series of updates have occurred within the Fostoria Police Department as reported by the Police Chief, Gabe Wedge, who was sworn into the position in July, 2022. The department purchased body cameras using grant money for each of the officers, which they implemented last week. Body cameras were ordered in the fall of 2022, but with distribution issues, officers were forced to wait to incorporate them until now. Cameras will constantly be on officers, offering transparency to both the department and community. "It provides the story," Wedge said of the cameras. "These videos—we're going to be very dependent on them to hold whoever is wrong accountable." Additionally, the police department obtained another multi-purpose K9, a Dutch Shepherd named Bandit. Wedge said Bandit is around 18 months old and recently graduated from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Training Academy. "We picked him up from a kennel in Indiana," said Bandit's handler, Officer Jared Lindig. "I started training with him in September…he was learning and I was learning at the same time." Bandit is the second K9 the Fostoria Police Department has acquired. Wedge explained the department scouted around 10 dogs before narrowing it down to Bandit. "With the changes in marijuana laws, this dog will not be trained for marijuana," he said. "I think that will be kind of more of a state thing going forward, and you don't want that dog to be set up for failure." "A lot of the other departments, especially OSP, have already gone down this road and we're just going to do the same thing—going after the stuff we need to be going after and not wasting our time," Wedge continued. Other highlights from the past year reported by the Fostoria Police Department include: The purchase of three regular new patrol cruisers and one new K9 car Officers have completed several accomplishments, even while being short-staffed. "The teamwork around here has been unmatched," Wedge said, noting the officers are able to keep professionalism even after working up to 16-hour shifts. Seneca County, Tiffin and Fostoria have all merged SRT units for special response, and they now have formed a negotiator team and a drone team. "I'm going to work with the city here over the next two months now that we're kind of getting settled with our budgets to come up with the money for our own thermal imaging drone," said Wedge. Moving forward, Wedge explained his goals include setting the department up for success and continuing to serve the community with dedication.