Perkins names interim police chief

PERKINS TWP. — On Tuesday, Perkins Township trustees named a successor to Vince Donald — a longtime department officer who most recently served as chief up until his unexpected death on Friday. They tapped Jeff Musser to assume this role on an interim basis. Musser "has been with the department since 1998, and the board has confidence in his administrative abilities and leadership experience," trustee Jeff Ferrell said. "The board will subsequently decide on how it will determine an appointment of the department's chief." All three trustees — Ferrell along with Tim Coleman and Jim Lang, a former Sandusky police chief — placed their faith in Musser in continuing Donald's way of handling local police business. Under Donald's direction, many praised the department for its work in apprehending criminals, finding fugitives and ensuring transparency with incidents or investigations. And, most of all, many people appreciated the agency's community-first approach, which consisted of hosting events amid non-emergency situations to foster goodwill between law enforcement and area residents. It's "been the new culture that Chief Donald has established, and our department intends to carry on his vision," Musser said. "The Perkins Township Police Department will continue to have a strong presence in our community and be a community-driven police department." With Perkins police, Musser started out as a road officer. He then received a promotion to sergeant in 2002. Then, in 2020, he began to oversee Perkins' patrol division, effectively becoming the department's second-in-command under Donald. While the promotion — he stands to make about $77,000 a year — comes under difficult circumstances, Musser feels grateful for the collective confidence trustees, colleagues and township stakeholders have in him. He then shared a message in the wake of, and as it relates to, Donald's unanticipated death. "I would like to thank all of the surrounding agencies for the support they have given to the Perkins Township Police Department and our community," Musser said. "I would also like to thank our community for all of their thoughts and prayers for Chief Donald's family." In memory Donald, a 1992 Sandusky High School graduate and a longtime Perkins police officer who became the department's chief in 2020, unexpectedly died on Friday. He was 48. A social media post from Perkins police's Facebook page indicates he passed away from "what appears to be of natural causes." As of late Tuesday, no information about a funeral or possible procession has been publicized. Beginning in 1996, Donald spent his entire law enforcement career with Perkins Township. He rose through the ranks — from officer to sergeant to lieutenant to assistant chief — ultimately culminating with his appointment to chief in July 2020. During his chief's swearing-in ceremony about 300 people — family members, friends, loved ones, regional law enforcement officials, past and present co-workers, among many others — attended the ceremony at Strickfaden Park. When Donald initially became a full-time township police officer in 1996, he never imagined becoming the department's top cop. But three former colleagues, in particular — his direct predecessors, former chiefs Ken Klamar and Robb Parthemore along with Sandusky County Sheriff Chris Hilton — convinced Donald he could achieve greatness in a leadership role. During that ceremony, Donald expressed his gratitude to family members — specifically his longtime significant other Amanda Adler and daughter Jaiden Borzon — for their patience and understanding as he missed out on many special moments, always placing his police career first. "Someone had to do it, and I was willing to do it. I was driven to do it," Donald said two years ago. "That is why I truly believe I am here today all because of my dedication for Perkins Township." Donald then turned his attention to the Perkins police force: officers who "work with, and not for, him." "We all do this job together," Donald said. "The officers and the supervisors we have will be able to do great things. The department is in a good place. It's not that we have to fix anything. We just have to continue to be better and move forward, and we have the guys and girls that can do it. I have faith in every single one of them." During his 10-minute address, Donald needed to pause several times as he kept receiving standing ovations from audience members. "I appreciate every single one of you," Donald said to those in the crowd. "I didn't grow up in Perkins, but Perkins gave me my job and my passion. Everything I do, I do it for Perkins Township."