09/05/2026
OFFICIAL STATEMENT — CONNEAUT FOP LODGE 51
The recent discussion regarding the City of Conneaut’s financial condition makes one thing clear: difficult decisions are ahead. Let’s make the right decisions.
Conneaut FOP Lodge 51 understands the financial challenges facing our city, and we support responsible economic development that strengthens Conneaut, broadens our tax base, and helps secure our community’s future.
However, as those conversations continue, public safety cannot become the price we pay for financial difficulties.
In his recent op-ed, City Manager Nick Sanford wrote that “a depleted workforce eventually produces overtime, burnout and diminished capacity.”
We agree.
For our police department, that concern is not hypothetical. It is happening now.
Conneaut is currently down four law enforcement officers — three patrol officers and one detective. At times, just two officers are responsible for providing police coverage across the entire 26.43 square miles of our city.
These are not additional positions we are asking the City to create. These are existing positions that our community previously relied upon and that were already part of our police department.
A city does not have to formally eliminate police positions to reduce police services. When authorized positions remain vacant for financial reasons, the operational result is the same: fewer officers are available to answer calls, provide backup, conduct investigations, proactively patrol our neighborhoods and businesses, and protect our community.
This affects more than the police department.
When only two officers are covering the entire city, backup may be tied up on another call or miles away when seconds matter. It affects our residents who depend on us when they call for help. It affects our officers who may have to handle dangerous situations without immediate backup. And it affects the safety of our firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders when they are on scenes requiring law enforcement assistance.
This message is not about creating fear or dividing our community. It is about having the same honest conversation about public safety that our community is being asked to have about Conneaut’s finances and future.
The City Manager titled his recent op-ed “The Price of Standing Still.”
We believe that message applies to public safety as well.
If there is a price to standing still, then when it comes to public safety, we also agree: now is not the time to stand still.
We cannot talk about building a stronger Conneaut for the next three generations while allowing the public safety workforce protecting Conneaut today to continue shrinking. Responsible growth and responsible police staffing should go hand in hand.
Conneaut FOP Lodge 51 highly encourages the members of Conneaut City Council, City Manager Nick Sanford, and Finance Director John Williams to prioritize public safety as they make the difficult financial decisions facing our city. We believe maintaining adequate police staffing and ensuring our first responders have the resources and personnel necessary to safely serve this community must remain a priority.
We also encourage our citizens to respectfully advocate for adequate police staffing and coverage by reaching out to members of Conneaut City Council first, as well as the City Manager’s Office. Let them know that as difficult financial decisions are made, maintaining adequate police staffing and public safety coverage must remain a priority.
Conneaut FOP Lodge 51 cares deeply about this community. We live here. We work here. Our families and friends live here.
We want responsible growth. We want a financially strong city. We want properly supported first responders. And above all, we want a safe Conneaut for everyone who calls this community home.
We believe we can accomplish all of those things together.
Public safety is not optional. It is essential.
Conneaut FOP Lodge 51�Together, we can keep Conneaut safe and strong. Gazette News Star Beacon
