City of Hilliard, Ohio USA

Today marks an important and proud moment in the history of Hilliard. Deputy Chief of Police Kelly Weiner took the oath of office, stepping into a legacy of leadership and dedication to serving the Hilliard community. ?? Chief Michael Woods administered the oath. "Your law enforcement journey has been one of hard work, integrity, and unwavering commitment," he said. "It is these qualities that have earned you this position, and I have no doubt that you will continue to serve with the same level of excellence that has defined your career thus far." Let the work begin! Read more about Deputy Chief Weiner ?? https://lnkd.in/gBZsjGVn

Welcome to the City, Jordan Young! ?? Jordan joins the Operations Department's forestry crew as a Maintenance Tech, where he will assist in the care and maintenance of City-owned street trees, including removal, pruning, stump grinding, and replacement.?? "I love being outside, working with the team," Jordan said. "Everyone seems pretty cool and I'm excited to be here." Jordan is from St. Paris, Ohio, and in his free time enjoys fly fishing. He has a dog; a five-year-old German Shepard named Dakota. ?? We are so excited for you to join us, Jordan!

Say hello to Hilliard's newest police officer! ?? Today, Officer Joshua Stahl graduated as part of the 146th class of the Columbus Police Training Academy. He's pictured with Chief Michael Woods and Lt. Doug Lightfoot. The academy includes 31 weeks of instruction on a diverse curriculum of subjects, with an emphasis on scenario-based training. In total, the academy provides more than double the amount of training required by the state. Recruits receive instruction on de-escalation, use of force, patrol operations and applied behavioral science, among other topics. Next, he will complete a 15-week field training program with a certified training officer. We look forward to introducing him to the Hilliard community. Stahl is a native of Toledo, but spent much of his childhood in Shelby. He is a graduate of Shelby High School and Bluffton University where he studied criminal justice and Spanish. He recently served with the Virginia State Police before returning closer to home. Interested in learning more about how YOU can #WearTheHPDBadge? Visit wearthehpdbadge.com

Congratulations to Carson Combs of the City's Planning Department on his new position as the Licking County Planning Director. Combs has served as the City of Hilliard's Planning Manager since January 2022. He previously had worked as a Senior Planner for the City of Dublin and worked as a zoning consultant. He also has been a lecturer at The Ohio State University's Knowlton School of Architecture. His experience and knowledge will be missed here in Hilliard. We wish Carson the best as he prepares for this next stage of his career!

A new wildlife-themed art sculpture is coming to Hilliard's Station Park this April! ???? ??The four-sided stainless-steel pyramid stands 10-feet, 10-inches tall, and will be internally lit with LED lights to show off its beautiful, intricate design at night in Downtown Hilliard. ??The sculpture was created by Columbus-based artist Andrew Lundberg of Lundberg Industrial Arts. He responded to a request from the Hilliard Public Arts Commission (PAC) for a "Wildlife Call for Artist" in May 2023. In the following months, details of the site and design were finalized by the City, PAC, and Lundberg. ??The foundation was laid earlier this month and the sculpture will be installed the week of April 7. An official dedication ceremony will be held at one of the City's Celebration at the Station concerts in June. "This sculpture is a captivating pyramid with intricate depictions of the region's flora and fauna," Lundberg said. "At its heart, a gentle LED light emanates, casting a soft, inviting glow that represents the area's rich electrical resources, harmoniously blending with the natural beauty of Hilliard." ??To learn more about local projects with the Hilliard Public Arts Commission, visit https://lnkd.in/givTzav8.

We're incredibly proud to have had Division of Police Detective Brandon Long representing our country and community at the @SpecialOlympics World Winter Games in Italy last month. ??#Turin2025 For several days leading up to the games, he was part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics team that ran through Italian mountain towns. During that time, he connected with law enforcement officers from around the globe while his team raised record-setting levels of $347,000 and counting for Special Olympics. ?? "I felt incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences with my fellow officers and the athletes. The significance of the moment was overwhelming — standing there, knowing the lives we were touching through our participation," he said. "It was an emotional experience I will never forget." Read more about his incredible experience here: https://lnkd.in/gMibD3M4 We're proud to be part of the Hilliard Bobcats team! #LETRForSO

The tech awards continue to pour in for the City of Hilliard!???????? Today, Fast Company, the world's leading business media brand, named our City one of the most innovative companies in economic development for 2025. Hilliard was one of just two municipalities to crack the prestigious Top 10 list, which included major tech hubs, economic development corporations, and well-known biotech initiatives. Hilliard City Lab was the driving force behind this global recognition. The high-tech ecosystem includes: ??HiFiO: A 60-mile long fiber optic network that fosters local business growth. ??Partnerships: Local firms such as Converge Technologies on Lyman Drive help provide space and expertise to tech startups. ???Hilliard's AI Sandbox: A testing site that lets firms evaluate artificial intelligence needs with low costs and low risks involved. ??Grant funding: Over the last four years, the City has awarded nearly $1 million to 32 startup projects through the Hilliard Development Corporation. Fast Company tabs Hilliard City Lab as a "key incubator in the region and a savvy buildout of the infrastructure and expertise that innovative firms need to thrive." ??Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eDT3hKKF

Congratulations to our Division of Police 2024 Employees of the Year: Officer Jeff Long and Training Coordinator Greg Bernard. ??They were nominated for the recognition by their coworkers. Officer Long joined HPD in 2023 and has quickly distinguished himself as a leader on the evening patrol shift. His coworkers called him "a go-getter who is always willing to help," commending his "solid police work." "He is always calm in high-stress situations and is able to calm others," one nominator said. "He has demonstrated several times that he is an essential part of the HPD team." Bernard, who joined HPD in 2018 with many years of experience in the Columbus Police Training Academy, received the Civilian Employee of the Year award. He oversees the division's training program and guides recruits in the training academy. "He looks for unique solutions that benefit staff members and the agency," said one nominator. ??The division's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and Traffic Safety Unit (TSU) received the Chief's Award. Working together over the past two years, the team's proactive undercover work has led to 58 arrests and nearly 300 charges for mostly drug-related crimes. ??Life-Saving Awards were presented to Sgt. Chad Wood and Officer Sean Gill for their efforts finding a missing woman suffering from an overdose and administering CPR and Narcan. Read more about the incredible efforts of our HPD staff here: https://lnkd.in/geVe2BUn

Welcome to the City, Jill Collins! ?? Collins joins the Recreation and Parks Department as Adult and Senior Recreation Supervisor, where she will oversee the management and operation of the Hilliard Social Center (HSC), Hilliard Café, and all adult and senior programs. She will also develop adult and senior programming geared specifically for The Well, when it opens later in 2025! Collins currently lives in Hilliard with her husband, young son, and corgi. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and cooking. ?? We are so happy for you to join us, Jill!

Give a warm welcome to Isaiah Murphy, the newest member of the City's Information Technology department! ????? In his role as an IT Support Analyst II, Isaiah will help with a variety of computer systems administration and support tasks across the City. He'll also play an integral role in supporting the current and future technology needs of The Well, the City's new recreation and wellness facility, set to open in the fall. 3?? things to know about Isaiah: ?? Before joining the City, he was an Information Technology Specialist at Lead the Way Learning Academy in Columbus. ?? He graduated from Notre Dame College with a degree in Management Information Systems. ?? He's a football star! Isaiah was an All State quarterback at Walnut Ridge High School and went on to play Division II football in the Cleveland area. He served as quarterback and captain, winning multiple conference championships during his time with the Falcons. "I'm super excited to take this next step in my career and join a growing team at the City of Hilliard," Murphy said. "This will be a great opportunity for me to learn and expand my skills alongside a great team. I'm looking forward to serving the residents here in whatever way I can." ?? Isaiah currently lives in Canal Winchester and enjoys playing video games, working out, and watching sports in his free time. Welcome to the City, Isaiah! ??