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 The Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall passes through downtown Wapakoneta Wednesday, September 1. Staff photo/William Laney By CARLA MEYER
Staff Writer
For 45 minutes, the roar of motorcycles could be heard passing under an American flag hanging from two ladder trucks. For 45 minutes, area residents gathered in the shadow of the Auglaize County Courthouse and Wapakoneta Fire Station waved and clapped as motorcyclists rode by.
The smiles and waves turned into clapping and cheers as the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall passed down Willipie Street on its way to Custenborder Field in Sidney where it was greeted by a field of American flags.
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Friday, 02 October 2009 |
By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
On Thursday morning, Nathan Motter assumed the role his grandfather once held decades ago.
At the age of 29, Motter was sworn in Thursday as the Waynesfield police chief. He replaces former Police Chief Lee Ziegler who was recently hired as the village administrator.
Hours after swearing in, Motter told the Wapakoneta Daily News the Thursday ceremony was the culmination of hopes and dreams spurred on as a child.
“My grandfather was a police officer in the late ’60s and was even chief for a while,” Motter said. “I would hear stories about him growing up, and I developed an interest for it.”
Motter began the police academy in the fall of 2001, just days after the 9-11 attacks in New York City and Washington D.C. The events of that morning further strengthened his resolve to become a law enforcement officer, he said.
After graduating from James A. Rhodes State College in 2003, Motter worked briefly as a special deputy sheriff with the Allen County Sheriff’s Office. He began his tenure at the Waynesfield Police Department in 2004 as an auxiliary officer.
He completed his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in May 2005 from Ohio Northern University, and after four years of auxiliary work he was promoted to part-time lieutenant.
Motter held the lieutenant rank until Thursday’s ceremony.
The decision to promote Motter to chief was put into the works two years ago when the village council voted to dissolve the Board of Public Affairs. In its place, councilors voted to have a village administrator to oversee the village water, sewage, electric and streets.
Motter said Ziegler had expressed interest in obtaining the role, and with Motter’s position as lieutenant, coupled with his seniority, he was tabbed to fill Ziegler’s shoes. Motter said he was offered the job six weeks ago, and councilors officially accepted the movement during their last meeting.
Having not reached the age of 30, Motter admitted the new position could be daunting, but he was confident he could take the could reins with minimal difficulty.
“It definitely can be overwhelming, but with Waynesfield being a small department, it provides me with a great opportunity career-wise, and it opens up opportunities down the road,” Motter said.
Motter is the youngest police chief in the county, but that has been the norm for the village.
Ziegler also was 29 when he took over as police chief. Despite his age, Motter said he has received nothing but the best from other county police chiefs.
“I’ve spoken with a lot through e-mail, and they’ve been very supportive,” Motter said. “I feel very welcomed at this point.”
The new police chief comes into the job with a list of goals he wishes to obtain during his tenure.
Motter said he aims to add more personnel to the department, whether in a paid, or auxiliary structure. More manpower, he said, is key to “making the department more visible.”
“It’s difficult to maximize our patrol potential with what we have right now,” Motter said. “If we increase manpower, it increases the amount of patrolling and it increases our visibility.”
Just hours into the job, and Motter said he already has the confidence he needs to handle the position he has sought after since he was a child.
“I know I’ve got areas to improve upon, but at the same time, I’m comfortable where I’m at,” Motter said. “I grew up in this area, and that will certainly work to my benefit.”
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Last Updated ( Monday, 05 October 2009 )
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