Vermilion names Scott Holmes as new police chief

VERMILION — There's a new chief in town, as veteran officer Scott Holmes takes his place as head of the Vermilion Police Department. Holmes was sworn in Friday as the eighth chief to lead the agency. He will replace retiring Chief Chris Hartung. Holmes has been with the department for almost 25 years. He was hired in November 2001 and promoted to corporal in 2011, and to sergeant in 2011. From 2012 to 2020, he was Vermilion's K-9 handler, working K-9s Andy, Nero, and Miro. Holmes also served in the Marine Patrol Unit since 2008 and since 2020 held the title of detective sergeant. Holmes has been honored as the department's Officer of the Year twice and has received multiple awards for meritorious conduct and lifesaving. Holmes and his wife, Jennifer, live in Vermilion, where they raised their two sons. Before coming to Vermilion, Holmes was a police officer in Milan and Kelleys Island police, and a park ranger with the Lorain County Metro Parks. He will soon oversee the department's relocation to its new home: a nearly $4 million police station on Douglas Street that should be completed very soon. At almost 6,000 square feet, the building is almost triple the size of the renovated Lawson's store the department now uses. Other officers also were recognized during the retirement and promotion ceremony. Those promoted include Sgt. Benjamin Sargent, a member of the department since 2019; Detective Sgt. Dale Reising, who joined the department in 2011 and became a sergeant in 2019; and Detective Kinzie Chandler, who has served as the school resource officer since 2022 and will be the first female detective ever appointed in the history of the department. Ronald Linkous III will be the new school resource officer. He has been with the department since 2018. Milo Drumm, who started with the department as a part-time officer in 2024, was hired full-time, and Brian Akers, a member of the Lorain Police Department, was hired as a part-time officer. The retirements of Hartung, who served 27 years, and Detective Cpl. Dan Shupe also were acknowledged. Shupe, a Vermilion High School graduate and U.S. Air Force veteran, is the son of an Vermilion police officer. He plans to retire May 8, after 25 years of service. Contact Rini Jeffers at rinijeffers@gmail.com.