POLICE DIVISIONS

Canine Unit

The Norwalk Police Department K-9 Unit was started in 2004 by Officer Dave Ditz along with donations from several area businesses for the purchase of K-9 Fazo.  Officer Dave Pigman took over K-9 handler duties for K-9 Fazo while Officer Ditz was on military deployments.  K-9 Fazo retired in the fall of 2008. 

The department acquired K-9 Viper who was assigned to Officer Timothy Skinner in the fall of 2008.  K-9 Viper was bred at North Coast K-9 in Monroeville, Ohio.  Officer Jared Ferris took over handler responsibilities for K-9 Viper in 2010. Officer Ferris and K-9 Viper worked together until 2016 when K-9 Viper was retired. 

In 2017, Gaymont Nursing Home and The American Legion Post 41 spearheaded the reboot of our K-9 program, along with the assistance of countless others. The K-9 Unit acquired K-9 Joker who was assigned to Officer Nick Weber.  K-9 Obie was also added to the unit after previously serving for the Willard Police Department and was assigned to Officer Hayden Service.  Both K-9 teams had trained regularly together and along with K-9 Units from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Perkins Police Department, Sandusky Police Department and Bellevue Police Department.  K-9 Obie retired in the winter of 2019. 

Officer Timothy Skinner took over handler responsibilities for K-9 Joker in the winter of 2019. K-9 Joker was certified to detect narcotics, track and apprehend fleeing suspects, and complete area/building searches.  K-9 Joker retired in 2022. 

Officer Mitchell Chapman became the departments next handler in November of 2022.  The Norwalk Police Department worked with K-9 trainers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol in selecting K-9 Legion, a German Shorthaired Pointer born in Hungary, from Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana.  Officer Chapman and K-9 Legion then attended a lengthy training course at the Ohio State Highway Patrol's K-9 Training Facility in Marysville, Ohio.  K-9 Legion is certified in narcotics detection and article searches and often interacts at public events.  All of the funding for the K-9 program comes from the American Legion Post 41 and they were allowed to choose the name for K-9 Legion.

Juvenile Unit

Sergeant Dave Daniels is currently assigned to the Juvenile Unit. He is responsible for attending to youth-related issues and problems, maintaining close liaison with agencies and organizations interested in juvenile matters, including Huron County Job & Family Services, Huron County Juvenile Court, and the Huron County Juvenile Prosecutor's Office.

The juvenile officer is also responsible for designing and implementing programs intended to prevent and control juvenile offenses and providing resources for juvenile cases within the department. Programs such as Safety Town, D.A.R.E, and regular visits to local schools have a positive impact on the children of our community.

School Crossing Guards

School crossing guards are employed by the police department. They are responsible for assisting children in crossing streets on their way to school. Crossing guards are posted at five different intersection in town, before and after school. The work involves considerable responsibility and attention to details of pedestrian and vehicular safety.  Crossing Guard Application