Dover considers raising the maximum age for newly hired police officers from 35 to 50

DOVER ‒ Dover City Council is considering legislation that would increase the maximum age that a male or female police officer could be hired by the city from 35 to 50.

Council gave the ordinance its first reading at its most recent meeting.

Safety Director Robert Everett explained the reasoning behind making the change.

"We are very much limiting our pool of candidates at 35 years old," he said. "If you happen to join the United States Navy and you become a Navy Seal and you end up doing a career in the Navy and you end up leaving after 20 years. You are a Navy Seal, you're a sharpshooter, you're in tip top physical shape. The city of Dover won't hire you because you're over 35, which to me ‒ as a guy that has been in this law enforcement business for decades ‒ is absolutely ludicrous in this day and age that we wouldn't hire that talented person."

The current age limit also limits the city from hiring veteran officers from other police departments, he noted.

Council will give the legislation a second reading at its July 15 meeting.

Other council business

• Council gave approval to the final Crimson Cove plat by a 7-0 vote following a public hearing prior to the council meeting. Lawver Construction of New Philadelphia is planning to build the 30-lot development on a 14-acre tract of land off of Ohio Avenue/County Road 80 just past Aspen Drive on the edge of the city corporation limit.
• Mayor Shane Gunnoe reported that Dover, New Philadelphia and Tuscarawas County are exploring the possibility of applying for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Active Infrastructure Investment Grant Program for completion of the Ohio & Canal Towpath Trail through the two cities. The federal agency will be awarding $45 million a year for the next several years toward development of large regional trail projects.
• The mayor also reported that Dover and Tuscarawas County were given positive coverage in last month's issue of Site Selection magazine, due to the Schaeffler Group USA's new plant planned for the north end of Dover. The plant, which will manufacture electric beam axles and electric drivetrain systems to support the hybrid/EV industry, is expected to bring 450 jobs to the area.
• The city will be placing banners downtown and in city park to celebrate Dover native Hunter Armstrong's qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Dover considers raising the maximum age for newly hired police officers from 35 to 50