The Village of Manchester has named veteran law enforcement officer Matt Windle as its new Police Chief, following a unanimous vote at the regular council meeting on Tuesday, September 16.
Windle, who brings decades of experience from his service with the Seaman and Peebles Police Departments, steps into the role after the resignations of former Chief Dakota Brown and Officer Zach Smith were accepted at a special council meeting earlier this month on September 3.
While Windle’s appointment provides leadership stability, the department continues to face operational challenges tied to administrative procedures within the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPADA) system.
Councilman Troy Jolly raised concerns during the September 3 meeting that the proper transition process was not followed, warning it could leave the village without active police coverage.
“All I did was waste my breath in that meeting, because it fell on deaf ears,” Jolly said. “Here we sit on the weekend in Manchester and no Manchester Police presence again.”
According to state requirements, a new chief or police clerk must be entered into the OPADA system before the outgoing chief is officially removed. In Manchester’s case, the failure to complete that step has temporarily left the village without an officer authorized to perform duties such as issuing citations, conducting traffic stops, or carrying out other official responsibilities.
“For the sake of the citizens of Manchester,” Jolly added, “I sure hope OPADA can get Chief Windle on the Manchester system soon so we can see routine patrol on our streets.”
The Manchester Village Council is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, September 23 at 6:00 p.m. to continue discussions, including the solicitor’s contract.
