READING — Police Chief Robert Huelsman will yield the helm of the 24-member Reading Police Department to Greg Hilling, a police lieutenant who becomes chief Feb. 1.

        Chief Huelsman, 53, announced his retirement Friday after serving three decades with the department, the past 17 as chief.

Hilling

        His last day will be Jan. 31.

        Mayor Earl Schmidt said Lt. Hilling scored highest of three lieutenants who took a civil service test for the post.

        “Bob served the community well for many years,” Mayor Schmidt said.

        “He brought in-house computerization to our police department and created a police liaison program with all of the schools in Read ing.”

        The mayor said Lt. Hilling “has worked well as a police lieutenant for the past two years and has the background to become an excellent police chief.”

        Many departments now are focusing on community-oriented police programs aimed to foster increased involvement between police and those they serve, Mayor Schmidt said.

        “Visibility of the police department in our community has become increasingly important. I believe Greg will continue efforts in that area,” the mayor said.

        Chief Huelsman, who lives in Mason with his wife, Jane, said he intends to take about two months off before turning his hobby of doing odd jobs and home remodeling into a full-time job as a home improvement project adviser with Home Depot.

        During his tenure, Chief Huelsman said he has cleaned up the community and improved its image. “When I became police chief, we had a lot of bars — knife and gun clubs — and three motorcycle gangs here. They are no longer here,” he said.

        When the chief learned several years ago that a convicted sexual predator had moved into town, he became concerned when the felon's parole officer told the chief he could not make the news public.

        Chief Huelsman then be came a leading law enforcement proponent of Ohio House Bill 180 — commonly called Megan's Law — which now requires police to notify schools and neighbors of such an offender's residency.

        “This guy was in walking distance of all of our schools,” said the chief, who notified the schools' superintendent anyway.

        Lt. Hilling, 46, who lives in Springfield Township with wife, Debbie, and teen daughters Beth and Terri, said Chief Huelsman leaves a well-organized, close-knit department.

        “There may be some change, but it will just be some tweaking.

        “I want to continue our emphasis on police working with schools, drug enforcement and keeping operations up with the changing times,” the lieutenant said.

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