Wooster police officers honored for flood rescue

Wooster City Council member Tyler Owens said he should start expecting to see something incredible when the rotunda is filled with police officers before a council meeting.

At the beginning of the April 6 meeting, Owens and the rest of council saw body-cam video of Wooster police officers rescuing a woman who was trapped in her car after driving into rising flood waters in the early morning hours March 27.

It was the second time in a few months Wooster police officers were honored at a council meeting, following the Feb. 3 meeting where awards were presented for thwarting an attempted suicide and helping arrest a suspect who fired at an officer during a traffic stop.

This time Elisabeth “Lesy” Herbert, Kagan Schafer and Ryan King received Lifesaving Awards for helping a woman trapped in a submerged vehicle, and Herbert and Schafer also were given Awards of Valor for extracting the woman from her car in 30-degree water with a strong current.

“I am very proud of them for their actions,” Police Chief Matt Fisher said. “Clearly, they saved this woman’s life.”

In addition to a standing ovation from the crowd, all the council members echoed Fisher’s praise for these officers and the entire department.

“What they did in dire circumstances was truly incredible,” member Drew Paul said. “We’re fortunate to have such competent, fearless personnel on our police force. While it wasn’t said, I do believe their actions are a reflection of the leadership, so I would like to compliment you, Chief Fisher, for the training and leadership you’re providing.”

“To see the officers’ coolness under that pressure is just very encouraging and amazing to watch,” member Lukas Gaffney said.

Member Jennifer Warden said she also expects Wooster police officers to follow the letter of the law and be respectful if Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers come to Wooster, which a couple of residents asked council to be prepared for during the public participation portion of the meeting. Several more residents spoke about this issue at the previous two meetings.

Council members also adopted two ordinances and seven resolutions, mostly entering into contracts or allowing for bids for construction work, and all but a few were already budgeted.

Ordinances included approving the sale of a surplus ladder truck to another municipality and authorizing the owner (Wayne County Community Foundation) of the building at 302 E. Liberty St. to continue making improvements that require an encroachment into the public right-of-way for an exterior American Disabilities Act ramp.

The resolutions passed were as follows:

—Hiring professional design services for the West Milltown Road Pedestrian Improvements Project to continue expanding and connecting its multi-use paths around the city, as well as to provide better access between the OSU campus and the surrounding area to downtown.

—Pavement widening and resurfacing and storm sewer installation on Gasche Street between East Wayne Avenue and Winter Street.

—Lining of sanitary sewers on portions of Woodland and Northwestern avenues, including a portion through Christmas Run Park, to prevent future root intrusion of tree roots that continue to enter the old vitrified clay pipe through the joints and cracks.

—Approving Arts District Streetscape Project work including improvements at the site of the former Wayne County Health Department building.

—Replacement of 40-plus-year-old electrical equipment at the Water Resource and Recovery Facility.

—Partnering with the Ohio Department of Transportation to purchase a total of 5,000 tons of salt in 2026 and 2027 to maintain sufficient reserves depleted throughout the winter season and minimize the risk of paying higher prices in an unstable salt market.

—Replacing 12 garage doors at the City Garage including new tracks and openers, lowering operating costs because fewer repairs will be needed and energy loss also will be improved, lessening the gas utility bill.