Lima City Council recognizes Police Chief Angel Cortes as he gets ready to enter retirement. In a resolution passed Monday night, Lima City Council shared their appreciation for Chief Cortes' leadership and service to the Lima Police Department and his contributions to make Lima a safe community for all. Since taking the Police Chief's oath back in June of 2022, Chief Cortes focused on various projects including recruitment of new officers from area high schools and colleges, the increase of salaries, and making sure the community stays fed through the "Filling the Gap" program. After council, Your Hometown Stations talked with Chief Cortes about the meaning of Monday night's recognition.
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Lima City Council continues their discussions from April on potentially changing their hiring procedures for the city's Police and Fire Chief. The conversation of this possible change is occurring as both Chief Angel Cortes with the Lima Police Department and Chief Andy Heffner with the Lima Fire Department will be retiring later this year leaving both positions open. Currently, the Lima Police and Fire Departments only permit hiring of the next chief by conducting an internal search, but council is considering expanding that search to external candidates outside of each department. However, councilors present different stances on what should occur.
Tonight at the regular Lima City Council meeting, the topic of community policing was at the forefront of city councilors. Chief of Lima Police, Angel Cortes, addressed upcoming changes to community policing within Lima city limits during the report of officials at City Council.
Police Chief Angel Cortes has confirmed that officer Tyler Dunlap has been put on paid administrative leave pending the result of a criminal investigation surrounding an incident on Sunday, June 19th that led to his arrest. That investigation will be conducted by the Wapakoneta Police Department.
Lima Police Chief Angel Cortes tells Your News Now, that he will decide whether to place Officer Dunlap on paid administrative leave and initiate an investigation after the officer's initial hearing and he reviews the video of the incident and written reports. The chief expects that decision Wednesday. Dunlap was released from jail after Tuesday's hearing.
Major Angel Cortes will be the city's next police chief. Cortes scored highest on the chief's exam and will be sworn in on June 2, 2022, in council chambers. Cortes has been with the department since August of 1991. He was promoted to sergeant in 1997, to lieutenant in 2003, and major in 2012 following competitive civil service examinations.