By GLEN WERLING
Brian McClish will serve as the interim chief of the Ossian Police Department following a 2-0 vote by the Ossian Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners during a Sunday evening meeting.
McClish, who has served more than 19 years with the OPD, will serve in the temporary role until a new chief is hired by the board. McClish is also currently the only full-time officer on the force which will also include a new part-time officer — Scott Adam.
A 1982 graduate of North Side High School in Fort Wayne, Adam is currently a full-time officer with the Fort Wayne International Airport Department of Public Safety. Previously Adam served 16 years on the Fort Wayne Police Department, served nine years as a K-9 officer at the New Haven Police Department, and was a firefighter and emergency medical technician with the New Haven/Adams Township Fire Department. He previously had served nearly 15 years as a firefighter with the St. Joseph Township Fire Department including a stint as the department’s chief.
He also is currently an EMT and firefighter with the Southwest Allen County Fire Protection District.
Like the other part-time officers on the force, Adam will be paid $35 an hour and is not eligible for benefits as he may not work more than 30 hours per week.
Both board president Caleb Chichester and vice-president Bob Miller agreed to hire Adam. Board member Stan Reed was unable to attend Sunday’s meeting.
Reed will not be attending any meetings of the board in the future as he chose to allow his term with the board to expire at midnight Dec. 31. Chichester has already put out the call for applications to fill Reed’s position on the board. The board members are appointed by the Ossian Town Council which will select a replacement for Reed. Those interested in serving on the board need to live in Ossian.
For more information, call the Ossian Town Hall at 622-4251.
The police commissioners’ next meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 3.
glenw@news-banner.com
