Police officers in Perrysburg Township and Rossford are joining forces to combat crime in their overlapping areas.
Township and city officials recently heard plans to create a criminal patrol team that will operate in shared areas, such as I-75 and U.S. 20/23, which is the location of dozens of retail stores.
Perrysburg Township Police Chief Matt Gazarek said the two agencies can help one another when there are thefts at businesses in the township, such as Kohl’s, or in the city on the other side of the road, where Target is located.
“One moment you’re in the township, the next moment you’re in Rossford, then you’re back in the township, within a mile,” Chief Gazarek said.
He said the criminal patrol team would be used to prevent retail theft, drug trafficking, and credit card fraud.
“Just the other day, we had subjects out of Chicago with counterfeit money … not only here but in the city of Rossford and the city of Perrysburg,” Chief Gazarek said.
The city and township already work well together, he said.