SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Township Police Chief Jack Simone presented the department’s 2025 Physical Fitness Awards at the Dec. 11 Board of Trustees meeting.
Simone said the competition gives officers the opportunity throughout the year to complete a series of fitness challenges including push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, a shuttle run, bench presses and a 1.5-mile run.
“It is so important in this field that officers stay physically fit,” Simone said. “This is a great example for law enforcement across the country and for our police department.”
He added he was personally disappointed that an injury prevented him from participating in the contest this year, adding the officers who did so were particularly committed to the effort.
“Staffing has been short all year, and they are all working a lot of overtime,” Simone said. “They found the time to [go to] the gym to work out.”
The 2025 Physical Fitness Awards winners are Sgts. Joseph Gaffney and Cody Meade, along with officers Ben Mars, Timothy Keys and Jonathan McKenzie.
Trustees also approved the appointment of Darius Elkin to the position of full-time police officer effective Dec. 8, with Elkin’s swearing in ceremony following.
Simone said Elkin is an Orrville native and Smithville High School graduate who completed the Kent State University police academy in 2020. Simone added Elkin has bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and police experience on the Kent and East Palestine police departments.
Also at the meeting, trustees held a public hearing to rezone three parcels on Canton Road owned by SR 91 LLC at 884 Canton Road from R-2 (Residential) to C-2 (Community Commercial District) to match the rest of the commercial area along Canton Road. Trustee Joe DiLauro said the proposed rezoning was recommended by the Summit County Planning Commission Sept. 25 and by the Springfield Township Zoning Commission Nov. 5.
No one spoke at the public hearing, and the board later approved the rezoning.
“It makes sense. Everything else is C-2 there along Canton Road,” DiLauro said.
Trustees also approved:
• the temporary appropriations budget for 2026, with 2026 permanent appropriations to be filed by April 1;
• the wage schedule for nonbargaining township employees effective Dec. 22;
• the appointment of Salvatore Sgotto to the position of Service Maintenance 1 effective Dec. 8, per the terms and conditions of employment as outlined in the current full-time Road Department collective bargaining agreement;
• the township’s participation in the 2026 Summit County Regional Pavement Maintenance Program with the Summit County Engineers Office;
• a $5,700 payment to BRYX Inc. for fire station alerting software and hardware. This equipment was purchased in 2021, and this is the final payment due;
• the purchase of a Ford F-150 from RPM Car Sales LLC in the amount of $15,700 to be used by the Springfield Township Zoning Department and fire inspector;
• the resignation of Data Clerk Kelsey Keys effective Dec. 11;
• a quote from Connection in the amount of $8,111 for the purchase of two mobile data terminals in the Police Department;
• the payment of $12,578 to Ken’s Auto Service for the installation of a new police cruiser engine; and
• a vehicle transfer agreement between the township, Metro SWAT and the Ohio Council of Governments, authorizing the township, as a member of the Council of Governments comprising Metro SWAT, to assume title and ownership of the 2018 Ford Econoline box truck. The agreement further states if the township ceases to be a member of the Council of Governments comprising Metro SWAT while still retaining ownership of the vehicle, ownership of the vehicle shall revert back to Metro SWAT.
The Springfield Township Board of Trustees will next meet Jan. 8 at 4 p.m. for the regular legislative meeting at Town Hall, 2459 Canfield Road. The meeting also is viewable on the township’s YouTube page, with a link available at springfieldtown ship.us in the “News Flash” under “View All.”
Springfield Police Department honors 2025 physical fitness award winners
