ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - The search is on for a new director of the Allen County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Allen County commissioners accepted current Allen County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Tom Berger's resignation as he is moving on to a position at the State of Ohio's Homeland Security. They then appointed deputy director Jared Gesler as the interim director.
Berger has headed up the department for 10 years and has been proud to do so. Commissioners say he has taken the department to a new level, and Gesler hopes to keep the momentum going.
"I can't say enough about the support that I received over the years as director here from the current administration and administrations prior. Hopefully, we're leaving the program a little better than what we received it. I have the utmost confidence in Mr. Gesler to carry the program on into the future," stated Tom Berger, outgoing director.
"As EMA director, I'd just like to thank him for his years of service and continued support of Allen County, taken that department to steps and new areas that we never thought would be possible," commented Brian Winegardner, Allen County Commissioner.
"Director Berger set a great example to follow, and I just hope to follow in his footsteps and look forward to taking the program further, building more community relations, and really focusing on that whole community approach," said Jared Gesler, interim director.
Gesler has been deputy director for the last two and a half years.
