Judge William Lauber swore in four (4) new officers on January 7th at 9:30 a.m. in Lima Municipal Court. Joining the force are Benjamin J. Thompson of Celina, Scott E. Luedeke of St. Marys, Edward A. Short of Ada, and Stephen J. Torres of Lima. This will bring the department's sworn personnel strength to 77.
Scott Luedeke graduated from St. Mary’s Memorial High School in 2007. He has an Associates degree in law enforcement from Rhodes State College. Before his employment with the Lima Police Department, he was a full time employee with Celina Aluminum Precision Technology and a part time officer with the Cridersville Police Department.
Edward Short graduated from Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia in 1996. Mr. Short was a member of the United States Marine Corps for 12 years and is now serving as a member of the Army Reserves. He was enrolled at Rhodes College majoring in electrical engineering. Before his employment with LPD, he worked part time for Fed Ex and DTR in Bluffton.
Benjamin Thompson graduated from Elyria Catholic High School in 2007. He has a Bachelors degree from Defiance College in Criminal Justice and received his Ohio Peace Officer basic training from the Lorain County Community College Police Academy. Before joining the LPD, he interned with the Defiance County Sheriff’s office during his senior year of college.
Steven Torres graduated from Juan Diego High School in Draper, Utah in 2006. He attended the College of Eastern Utah in Price, Utah where he did his undergraduate studying and graduated with an Associate Degree in Science. He received a Bachelors Degree in Sports Science from Bluffton University.