Politics & Government

Three New Police Officers Sworn In to Maintain Staffing Levels

Stow recently swore in three new officers and two are headed to the police academy.

Their family members and their new work family gathered at th to , 2012. 

Two of the officers — Lasko and Talcott — will be headed to the police academy soon and Whitacre will start right away. 

City Council approved hiring the new officers last month after the mayor said there is a confirmed retirement in January. 

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"By changing the structure of hirings, we are going to be able to have an officer finishing the police academy just a mere two weeks prior to that retirement," said Mayor Sara Drew. "This way the department can maintain its level at 38 officers, which is a benefit to this community."

Here's a little about the three new officers:

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BRAD WHITACRE

  • He is coming from the Canal Fulton Auxiiliary Police Department after a year of service. He attended the University of Akron before being deployed to Iraq with the Army, where he served two years. While serving in the Army he received an Army achievement medal and the distinguished honor grad award. 
  • He graduated from the Buckeye State Police Academy where he received the academic achiever award.
  • Brad is married to Michelle and they have two daughters. 
  • The couple lives in Clinton. 
  • He will make $22.88/hour. 

KASEY LASKO

  • Kasey was most recently employed as a dispatcher for the Twinsburg Police Department. Prior to that she worked with the Secret Service in Washington, D.C. She was a member of the bike patrol.
  • She will be attending the University of Akron Police academy July 30.
  • She crew up in Elyria and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cleveland State University with a degree in public safety and management. 
  • Kasey and her husband, Matt, have a three month old son and live in Cleveland. 

BRETT TALCOTT

  • Brett graduated from Archbishop Hoban High School and the University of Akron. He graduated cum laude with a degree in political science and criminal justice in 2010. 
  • He was most recently an employee at Texas Roadhouse. 
  • Brett lives in Firestone Park and has four younger brothers. 
  • He will be attending police academy training at the end of the month. 

Lasko and Talcott will make $21.88/hour until they are certified officers.

After the officer retires in January, staffing levels will be at 38 full-time —. 

"I'm very proud of our officers and what they do," said Chief Louis Dirker. "These three young people have gone through a lot. We all know how rigorous the testing process we put them through is. We want to make sure we only get the best officers to serve the city of Stow."


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