BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP -- The board of trustees appointed Robert Pieper police chief of the township Wednesday night, giving him the power to make arrests and manage the contract for safety services with the Hamilton County Sheriff's office.
The position will pay $40,000 a year.
Mr. Pieper, who retired from the sheriff's department on July 31 after 25 years, had served as the sheriff's liaison for Sycamore Township for seven years.
"The appointment as police chief allows him to continue the work and the programs he has already started here," said Richard Kent, president of the board.
Mr. Kent and Cliff Bishop voted to create the position and appoint Mr. Pieper. Board member Cletus McDaniel voted no on both issues.
"I just think our plate is full now and we don't need to create this position," Mr. McDaniel said. "If the zoning issue passes in November, that means we will be creating and enforcing our own zoning codes which involves appointing a zoning commission."
Mr. McDaniel also questioned how the the relationship between Mr. Pieper and the sheriff's department would work in the township.
"If there is a robbery, who responds and who is in charge?" Mr. McDaniel asked.
Mr. Bishop said those duties had been clearly defined.
"The sheriff's department will respond and they will be in charge," Mr. Bishop said. "If Mr. Pieper is there and he sees a suspect he has the power to make an arrest now as police chief." Mr. Bishop said there is no township policy requiring Mr. Pieper to respond to a robbery.
"He can go if he chooses and if he does he will be there to help the sheriff's department," Mr. Bishop said.
Having a police chief in the township is also cheaper, Mr. Bishop said.
"With Mr. Pieper managing the contract with the sheriff's department, we pay him directly and cut out the extra pay for administrative services, the department charged us," Mr. Bishop said.
Mr. Pieper will be sworn in on Oct. 2 and will be in charge of a one-man safety department. He will be entitled to a vehicle. "My duties will also include enforcing the zoning regulations if the issue is passed in November," Mr. Pieper said.
Mr. Kent said Mr. Pieper created the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in the township, as well as safety programs for seniors and block watch.
