Police Chief

WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP 9113 CINCINNATI-DAYTON ROAD WEST CHESTER OH 45069

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TRUSTEES PREPARED TO TAP NEW POLICE CHIEF The West Chester Township Board of Trustees is expected to appoint Lt. Erik Niehaus as Police Chief at the Dec. 2 regular meeting. Lt. Niehaus will replace Police Chief John Bruce. Lt Niehaus will assume the position effective December 3, 2008. In order to facilitate the transition to new leadership in the police department, Col. Bruce has offered and the Trustees have accepted his resignation as Police Chief effective Dec. 1, 2008. The Chief will receive the balance of his salary and the full range of benefits to which he is entitled until the end of this calendar year. “All three candidates are excellent law enforcement professionals and the decision was a difficult one,” said Township Trustee George Lang. “We based our decision upon the needs of the organization and the future direction West Chester Township will take as a community.” Lt. Niehaus has 14 years of experience with the West Chester Police Department serving the community first in the capacity of patrolman and advancing to the rank of sergeant in 1999 and lieutenant in 2005. He most currently leads the Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Section. A nearly 12-year resident of West Chester, Lt. Niehaus, 37, is married and has two children. He is a graduate of Ball State University and the Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law and was first licensed to practice law in 2005. “Mr. Niehaus brings great qualities to the position of Police Chief,” said Trustee Lee Wong. “We look forward to benefitting from the great vision he will bring to this job.” The police chief leads a department of 90 officers. He reports directly to the Township Public Safety Director. “Police and fire services are among the most critical that we offer our residents,” said Trustee Catherine Stoker. “With Lt. Niehaus we further advance a high standard of professionalism and level of expectation for those in law enforcement in West Chester.”