By TODD HELBERG
cnedit@crescent-news.com
Defiance has a new police chief following testing last weekend.
Tim Tobias was promoted from assistant chief to chief this week after he scored higher than two other candidates on Saturday, according to city administrator Jeff Leonard.
Tobias has been the acting chief since Norm Walker's retirement Friday. He will continue in that capacity until being sworn in as chief on Tuesday, Leonard said.
He bested Lt. Jeff Mack and Lt. Steve Gebhart in written and oral testing conducted five days ago in City Hall.
"I'm happy and I'm excited about what the rest of my career brings and what we can do at the department," said Tobias.
"We have a very young department now, and they're a bunch of great guys. So, I'm real happy to be in a position to help them do their job and do it well.
"I do have mixed emotions," added Tobias, 45, a Holgate native who has been assistant chief since October 1993. "Even though I was the assistant chief, being responsible for the department is a lot of weight on my shoulders and stress. I know the good comes with the bad sometimes. But I'm sure things are going to go well and I'm excited about it."
"He's got some very good credentials," said Leonard. "He went through the FBI Academy some years ago, which is a good program, certainly for leadership, and that's been to his advantage. He's a guy who's from northwest Ohio and he knows the community. Norm Walker and him had a good relationship, and I think Tim will do fine."
A 22-year veteran of the police department, Tobias began his tenure as a patrolman in 1984. He was then promoted to sergeant in 1989 before becoming assistant chief in 1993.
The new chief graduated from Holgate High School in 1980 and Defiance College in 1984.
He and his wife, Kristy, have a daughter, Lindsey, and a son, Jordan.
Tobias' selection now opens a vacancy for assistant chief.
Leonard said city officials plan to post the position before new testing is held. The city has the option of hiring internally, if enough candidates sign up to make it competitive, or outside division ranks, if not.