Village of Groveport

The History of Policing in Groveport

Main Street East Over Canal Bridge, 1908

Policing in Groveport began with the village’s incorporation in 1847 when the newly formed village council appointed William James as the first marshal. Reflecting the roughness of a canal era town, the village soon passed ordinances making it unlawful to race horses, fight, brawl, quarrel, shoot guns, or otherwise disturb the peace in the village. They also built a calaboose (jail) which included a fenced in lot; where the marshal could keep any swine that he found running loose.

Marshal Albert Schlosser (left), Circa 1935

Early marshals were either elected or appointed to serve one or two year terms; during times of increased needs deputy marshals were appointed to assist the marshal. Many of the early marshals also served as lamp lighters and turners for the bridge over the Ohio and Erie Canal on Main Street . Marshals continued to serve Groveport in either a full or part time basis until the mid-1960’s when growth in the area and at the near by Lockbourne Air Force Base led to concerns about traffic and crime in Groveport.

Al Whipple, Groveport's First Police Chief

In 1966 Groveport abandoned its marshal system and hired Al Whipple as the village’s first chief of police, hired two full time police officers, and created an auxiliary police unit. The police department continued to grow and by 1969 consisted of six full time, ten auxiliary officers, and a staff of three full-time radio dispatchers; which served the Village and all of Madison Township until 1972 when Madison Township formed its own police department and dispatching center.

Mayor Higgins swearing in a new Officer, 1967

Unknown Groveport Officer at accident, 1968

Sgt George Nance, 1969

Groveport cruiser 1972

The Groveport Police Department remained about the same size for several years; consisting of six or seven full time officers with a number of reserve officers to supplement coverage. Then in the early 1980,s the sleepy village of about 2500 people experienced a dynamic growth spurt that continues today. The village annexed land and formed several large industrial complexes as well as new residential housing. Thanks to a supportive community and council, the police department was able to grow and today is a modern full service police department.

Department Photo 1987

1981 Malibu

1987 Gran Fury

1991 Chevy Caprice

1992 Crown Victoria

Ret. Chief Whipple and Chief Adams, 2000

Groveport Uniform Patches

Mid 1960s to 2003

Marshals and Chiefs of Police Of the Village of Groveport

Wm. James	1847 - 1848	W. E. Thompson	1892 - 1895
Lemuel Sarber	1849	R. R. Paxton	1896 - 1897
James Turner	1850	W. E. Thompson	1898
Benjamin Calhoun	1851	R. R. Paxton	1899
Lemuel Sarber	1852	John A. Kyle	1900 - 1901
O.F. Connell	1853	Albert Sandy	1901 - 1902
Jacob Stimmel	1854	George Bobst	1902
Wm. Watson	1855 - 1856	J. W. Glick	1902 - 1905
Jacob Stimmel	1857	William Carr	1905 - 1906
James Turner	1858 - 1859	H. E. Ferrell	1906 - 1907
Lemuel Sarber	1860	Edison Morehart	1907 - 1913
Joseph Cherry	1861	Jasper Lowery	1913 - 1916
G.P. Champe	1862 - 1863	Charles Eccard	1916 - 1917
Lemuel Sarber	1865	George Bobst	1917 - 1918
John A. Kyle	1866	J. W. Glick	1918 - 1925
Lemuel Sarber	1867	Lawerence Cox	1926 - 1927
Joseph Lytle	1868	Charles Yors	1928 - 1929
H. O'Harra	1869	Albert Schlosser	1930 - 1935
G. W. Bowland	1869 - 1870	W. Elder Thompson	1936 - 1939
F. M. Groom	1871	Harry Palm	1939
L. Shirily	1871 - 1872	Albert Schlosser	1940 - 1942
A. McCoy	1872 - 1874	Russel McKinney	1942 - 1946
G. Dildine	1874 - 1876	W. R. Spence	1946 - 1948
A. Sandy	1876	Paul Raver	1949 - 1951
J. Wallace	1876 - 1877	Roy Compton	1952 - 1954
J. W. Glick	1878 - 1879	Jessie Cox	1954 - 1956
T. H. Carder	1879	Ralph Hoppes	1957 - 1959
Elijah Cassidy	1879 - 1880	John Leadman	1959 - 1961
Willam M. Sharp	1880 - 1881	John Hout Sr.	1961
Jerry Glick	1881 - 1882	Paul W. Thompson	1961 - 1963
Joseph W. Glick	1882 - 1886	Walter H. Thompson	1963 - 1965
J. D. Weekley	1886 - 1887	Larry Helber	1965
Issac Mussleman	1887	Philip Debus	1965 - 1966
J. D. Weekley	1887	Albert E. Whipple	1966 - 1981
John Cramer	1888 - 1889	Roger Adams	1981 - 2002
John Kyle	1890 - 1891	Timothy Carney	2002 - 2003
		Bary Murphy	2003 - 2006
		Gary B. York	2006 - present

The Groveport Police Department is currently working to collect pictures and other memorabilia from our past for display. If anyone has any items they would care to contribute, please contact us by email link above or call Chief Gary B. York at 614 836-5301.