Chief debates hanging up badge after 42 years
Mayor prepared to seek successor if necessary
Patrick Berarducci
MEDINA – Whatever he decides, it won’t be an easy choice.
Medina Police Chief Patrick Berarducci, 66, spoke to The Post Jan. 26 for the first time publicly since taking medical leave in November 2016. An undisclosed health issue, which he said affects muscle strength, has kept the chief sidelined.
Berarducci said he is now faced with the decision whether to retire, which would conclude four-plus decades of decorated and diverse police work at both the municipal and federal levels, the latter having been for nearly 30 years.
Berarducci was appointed as Medina’s chief in 2009 by the late Mayor Jane Leaver. He took over for Dennis Hanwell, who was elected mayor the same year and still holds the seat.
“It may be best that we amicably part ways, but I don’t know yet,” Berarducci said. “I could do my job in a wheelchair if I had to, but I don’t think that meets the mayor’s expectations.”
The chief said he is feeling “OK” and “getting better,” adding the issue is “something I’ve been fighting for a couple years.”
“You know, I’ve got almost 42 years (in law enforcement). That’s more than most, and it hasn’t always been pleasant, but at some point, I’ve got to worry about my family and myself and enjoy the years that I have left,” Berarducci said.
Berarducci did not rule out returning to work, though, saying he has been in regular contact with the department during his absence.
“That’s really the extent of it, is getting over the thing to the point where it’s acceptable for both me and the city to come back,” he said. “We’ll see where it goes.”
Next in command, and serving as acting chief since November 2016, is Lt. Dave Birckbichler, 55. He was hired by Medina Police as a patrolman in 1995, promoted to sergeant in 2005 by Chief Hanwell and Mayor Leaver, then promoted to lieutenant in 2010 by Berarducci and Mayor Hanwell.
Birckbichler – who operates the department’s dispatch center, among other duties – would qualify as a possible successor should Berarducci decide to step down.
However, Hanwell said any MPD lieutenant or sergeant with two or more years experience at either rank, of which MPD has a handful, would be eligible to apply, test and interview for the position.
“Whether or not they want it is up to them,” Hanwell said. “I’d hate to not provide them that opportunity.”
Berarducci declined to speculate on internal promotion scenarios, instead saying the department is made up of “a good bunch of people.”
Hanwell – whose entire law enforcement career was in Medina – said he would prefer an officer from within the department be promoted to chief, like he was, but does not want to exclude qualified outside candidates.
Berarducci was hired as chief by Leaver as an outside candidate, coming from the Youngstown suburb of Boardman, where he was chief for nearly three years. He bested three MPD officers in consideration for the position at that time.
Asked whether he would seek Berarducci’s input during a potential replacement process:
“I’m not certain that I would,” Hanwell said, declining to comment on the question further.
Medina Police Chief Patrick Berarducci, 66, spoke to The Post Jan. 26 for the first time publicly since taking medical leave in November 2016. An undisclosed health issue, which he said affects muscle strength, has kept the chief sidelined.
Berarducci said he is now faced with the decision whether to retire, which would conclude four-plus decades of decorated and diverse police work at both the municipal and federal levels, the latter having been for nearly 30 years.
Berarducci was appointed as Medina’s chief in 2009 by the late Mayor Jane Leaver. He took over for Dennis Hanwell, who was elected mayor the same year and still holds the seat.
“It may be best that we amicably part ways, but I don’t know yet,” Berarducci said. “I could do my job in a wheelchair if I had to, but I don’t think that meets the mayor’s expectations.”
The chief said he is feeling “OK” and “getting better,” adding the issue is “something I’ve been fighting for a couple years.”
“You know, I’ve got almost 42 years (in law enforcement). That’s more than most, and it hasn’t always been pleasant, but at some point, I’ve got to worry about my family and myself and enjoy the years that I have left,” Berarducci said.
Berarducci did not rule out returning to work, though, saying he has been in regular contact with the department during his absence.
“That’s really the extent of it, is getting over the thing to the point where it’s acceptable for both me and the city to come back,” he said. “We’ll see where it goes.”
Next in command, and serving as acting chief since November 2016, is Lt. Dave Birckbichler, 55. He was hired by Medina Police as a patrolman in 1995, promoted to sergeant in 2005 by Chief Hanwell and Mayor Leaver, then promoted to lieutenant in 2010 by Berarducci and Mayor Hanwell.
Birckbichler – who operates the department’s dispatch center, among other duties – would qualify as a possible successor should Berarducci decide to step down.
However, Hanwell said any MPD lieutenant or sergeant with two or more years experience at either rank, of which MPD has a handful, would be eligible to apply, test and interview for the position.
“Whether or not they want it is up to them,” Hanwell said. “I’d hate to not provide them that opportunity.”
Berarducci declined to speculate on internal promotion scenarios, instead saying the department is made up of “a good bunch of people.”
Hanwell – whose entire law enforcement career was in Medina – said he would prefer an officer from within the department be promoted to chief, like he was, but does not want to exclude qualified outside candidates.
Berarducci was hired as chief by Leaver as an outside candidate, coming from the Youngstown suburb of Boardman, where he was chief for nearly three years. He bested three MPD officers in consideration for the position at that time.
Asked whether he would seek Berarducci’s input during a potential replacement process:
“I’m not certain that I would,” Hanwell said, declining to comment on the question further.