The Village of Manchester is moving quickly to rebuild its police department following the abrupt resignation of Police Chief Dakotah Brown, which left the community without a local law enforcement presence.
Brown, who had served as chief since July 2023, announced his resignation in a social media post last week, citing limited resources and resistance to his requests for additional funding. “I believe that I had built the department as much as I possibly could without assistance,” Brown wrote. “Without those resources to grow the department, I made the decision that it was best to step away.”
In response, village officials convened an emergency meeting on Friday, September 5 at 5:00 p.m., called by Councilman Troy Jolly, Councilwoman Diane Brown, and Councilwoman Mandy Thompson.
At the meeting, Jolly addressed the budget dispute at the center of Brown’s departure. “Listen, we understand the seriousness of how the Police Department left us. We are not closing the Police Department,” Jolly said. “Here’s the deal: Dakotah Brown and the recently hired Police Officer Zach Smith asked for $100,000 out of the General Fund for a safety net for their Police Fund. They have over $143,000 already earmarked for their Police Fund. No reason in the world would we give them the $100,000 when they already have it and should use it!”
Village leaders also approved a new pay structure for the department. The next police chief will earn a salary of $50,000 per year plus benefits, while officers with less than two years of experience will receive $19 per hour with benefits. Officers with two or more years of experience will earn $21 per hour with benefits.
The village is now actively recruiting for a new chief and additional officers. Certified police officers in Ohio are encouraged to submit résumés to the Village of Manchester, 400 Pike Street, Manchester, OH 45144.
