Middlefield Welcomes Tucholski as Chief
April 10, 2014 by

Joseph A. Tucholski Jr. received a standing ovation from Middlefield Village Council and a packed meeting room after Mayor Ben Garlich swore him in as…

Joseph A. Tucholski Jr. received a standing ovation from Middlefield Village Council and a packed meeting room after Mayor Ben Garlich swore him in as the new village police chief last Thursday.

Council’s unanimous vote to promote the lieutenant to chief was the culmination of two years of hard work by Tucholski, Garlich said.

When the position became open a few years ago, Tucholski applied for it. The hiring panel knew he was a good candidate, but he needed more professional development, the mayor said.

Arnold Stanko was hired on a two-year contract to reorganize the department and mentor the lieutenant, Garlich said. Tucholski completed the FBI Academy course and worked on his management skills.

“He did everything we asked him to do,” the mayor said. “I look forward to having a home-grown chief.”

He also appreciated the contributions made by Stanko in the last two years, Garlich said.

Council passed an emergency resolution Thursday to enter into a severance and general release agreement with the former chief.

Erin Thomas, the village police officer injured in a shooting in the line of duty a year ago, attended the meeting and was recognized by Garlich.

Thomas said she is working with doctors to determine why her hand, which was wounded during the incident, has not fully healed.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to work,” she said, adding the support she has received from the department and administration means a lot to her.

Garlich said the department is willing to have her back when she is ready to return to duty.

“You have the respect and admiration of this entire council,” he said, which elicited a second standing ovation that evening.

In other business, Garlich presented former village Fiscal Officer Tiffany Makeel with a resolution of recognition for her many years of service.

He also swore in her replacement, Nick Giardino, who has resigned from the village planning and zoning commission after only two meetings, to take the fiscal officer’s position.

The only disappointment of the evening was the mayor’s ban on council’s tradition — a break for cake to celebrate the various events.

“No cake,” Garlich said, good naturedly, to a vocal council. “Deal with it.”