Eric M. Scott has served as the Grove City police chief since April 17, 2023, when Mayor Richard “Ike” Stage appointed him to lead the Grove City Division of Police in Grove City, Ohio.1NBC4 WCMH-TV. Grove City Hires Second Police Chief in Less Than a Year He runs a department of roughly 61 sworn officers covering a city of about 42,000 residents, and the city’s official staff listing confirms he continues to hold the position.2Grove City. Police Staff Listing
Who Eric M. Scott Is
Scott is a longtime Grove City resident who spent more than 20 years with the department before being named chief. He worked patrol, investigative, and administrative assignments, earning promotion to sergeant in 2012 and lieutenant in 2018. The department named him Officer of the Year in 2000 and again in 2009.1NBC4 WCMH-TV. Grove City Hires Second Police Chief in Less Than a Year
Why Grove City Needed a New Chief in 2023
Scott was the second chief hired within a year. He replaced Richard S. Fambro, who joined the division in September 2022 after more than 30 years with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Fambro served about seven months before leaving to become director of protective services at OhioHealth.1NBC4 WCMH-TV. Grove City Hires Second Police Chief in Less Than a Year The quick turnover favored a candidate already familiar with the department, which Scott’s two-decade tenure provided.
What the Chief Actually Does
Ohio law gives the chief of police exclusive control over stationing and transferring officers within the department, subject to the general rules the director of public safety sets.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 737 – Public Safety In practice, the chief decides who works which beat, who moves into specialized units such as the detective bureau or K-9 team, and how patrol resources shift when crime patterns change.
The chief also holds the exclusive right to suspend officers for cause, including incompetence, gross neglect of duty, or failure to follow orders. After a suspension, the chief must report the action and the reason to the director of public safety, who then has five days to review the decision.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 737 – Public Safety
Beyond personnel, the chief oversees the division’s annual budget, covering payroll, equipment, vehicles, and technology, with financial reporting flowing through the Mayor’s office and ultimately requiring City Council approval. The chief also drafts internal policies on officer conduct and use of force, which must align with Ohio Revised Code requirements and the department’s national accreditation standards.
Community programs run under the chief’s operational authority as well. Grove City fields School Resource Officers at Grove City High School and Central Crossing High School, the K.E.Y. (Knowledge Empowering Youth) program for fifth-graders, the S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department and the Evans Center, and a Law Enforcement Explorer Program open to applicants aged 14 to 20.4Grove City, OH. Community Services
Accreditation and Training Standards the Chief Must Maintain
The Grove City Division of Police has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) since 2002 and has earned seven consecutive awards for Meritorious Advanced Accreditation, placing it among roughly 10 percent of U.S. law enforcement agencies that hold CALEA recognition.5National Testing Network. Grove City Job Details CALEA’s Advanced program requires compliance with all 461 standards in its law enforcement manual, covering evidence handling, pursuit policies, internal investigations, and more.6CALEA. Law Enforcement – Standards Titles Keeping that accreditation shapes nearly every internal policy decision the chief signs off on.
Ohio law also requires every sworn peace officer, including the chief, to complete at least 24 hours of continuing professional training each calendar year.7Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Administrative Code 109:2-18-02 – Officer Training Requirements The chief’s office tracks those hours; the Ohio Attorney General’s office directs officers with questions about their training status to contact their chief or the chief’s designee rather than the state.8Ohio Attorney General. 2026 Continuing Professional Training Active certification from the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy is a baseline requirement for every officer on the roster.
How the Chief Is Appointed in Grove City
Under the Grove City Charter, the Mayor serves as chief executive and appoints city employees, including the police chief, subject to the Charter and state civil service law. The Mayor may delegate that appointment authority to the City Administrator.9Grove City, OH. Mayor’s Office The Civil Service Commission adopts the rules governing selection, promotion, demotion, discipline, and removal of employees in the city’s classified service.10Grove City, OH. Civil Service Commission At the state level, Ohio Revised Code 737.05 provides that each city’s police department consists of a chief of police along with whatever other officers and employees the legislative authority provides by ordinance.11Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 737.05 – Composition and Control of Police Department Scott’s 2023 appointment followed this framework, with Mayor Stage selecting him from within the department’s existing ranks.
How to Reach the Chief’s Office
The Grove City Safety Complex is located at 3360 Park Street, Grove City, OH 43123. Non-emergency administrative calls go to 614-277-1710.12Grove City, OH. About Police The city website also offers a contact portal for digital correspondence and public records requests. Administrative staff handle initial intake and route messages to the appropriate division, and standard inquiries typically receive a response within a few business days.