Officers with the Gerald Police Department face a daunting task of restoring confidence in a department that has been marred by recent negative publicity. Department members (above, from left) include Gary Watson, Andrew Rosenkoetter, Clyde Zelch and Derrick Lewis.

Last week he made his second visit to Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke and Prosecuting Attorney Bob Parks. He asked both men for their cooperation in keeping Gerald safe and he vowed his in return. “We are a small town with limited resources and we need to get all the help we can,” Zelch explained. He noted that he expects to work more closely with the Franklin County drug task force in the future. All officials that he visited promised to do what they could to get the Gerald Police Department back on its feet.

Zelch faces a daunting task. “There is so much to do. My first priority is to get our reporting system back on track. We just got our computers back from the FBI. We need  to inventory what’s in the building now,” he said.

He has already met with the Board of Aldermen. He plans to meet with each business owner and as many residents as he can in the next few weeks. “I want to instill confidence in the Gerald Police Department. I want to show people we are improving every day,” Zelch says.

He plans to start walking a beat, as a good way to get out and make contact with the townspeople. “I hope to meet everyone in time, but it may take me awhile,” he laughs.