PIERCE TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Police Chief Paul Broxterman has appointed Justin Schultz as assistant police chief, creating a new second-in-command post atop the Pierce Township Police Department’s chain of command, the department announced.
Schultz, who holds the rank of lieutenant colonel under the department’s command structure, previously served as a detective with the department, where he led investigations including a string of vehicle break-ins reported earlier this month.
“Justin has served our department with distinction, and I am confident that his leadership, experience, and commitment to our officers and our community will be tremendous assets in this new role,” Broxterman said in a Facebook post announcing the appointment.
Broxterman was appointed chief of the Pierce Township department on Feb. 28, 2022, after a 33-year career with the Cincinnati Police Department, where he spent 16 years holding the rank of captain, according to the township. The department’s use of military-style ranks, including colonel for its chief and lieutenant colonel for its second-in-command, mirrors the rank structure used by the Cincinnati force.
The Pierce Township department traces its roots to the 1950s, when the township’s law enforcement consisted of a single full-time constable, according to the township. It has since grown into a 24-hour agency patrolling the township’s 23 square miles, and in 2019 it took over policing portions of the former village of Amelia south of state Route 125. The department says it maintains one of the lowest crime rates in Clermont County and emphasizes community-oriented policing through programs such as National Night Out and its Citizens Police Academy.
Broxterman said he looked forward to working alongside Schultz “as we continue to provide the highest level of service to the residents of Pierce Township.”
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Pierce Township Police Department.