Toledo Approves $500K for New Community Policing Station

The station aims to fill gap after closure of northwest substation, but staffing challenges loom.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 1:07am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police badge or handcuffs lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.The new community policing station aims to restore a visible police presence in west Toledo, but staffing challenges loom.Toledo Today

Toledo City Council has allocated $500,000 to establish a new community policing station in west Toledo, following the closure of the D. Michael Collins Northwest Substation last year. While neighbors are excited about the increased police presence, Toledo Police Chief Mike Troendle says staffing the new station will be a challenge due to expected retirements and a smaller recruit class.

Why it matters

The new community policing station is intended to provide a police presence in west Toledo after the closure of the previous substation. However, the Toledo Police Department is facing staffing shortages, which could make it difficult to fully staff the new station and maintain adequate coverage across the city.

The details

The funding for the new community policing station was proposed by city council member Sam Melden, who wanted to follow through on a commitment to bring a police presence back to west Toledo. Neighbors in the area, such as landlord Gary Harmon, are excited about the prospect of quicker response times and feeling safer in their neighborhoods. However, Police Chief Troendle says the station won't be staffed 24/7 and the department will have to be creative in how they staff it, as they are facing at least 40 expected retirements this year and only 20 new recruits, down from the hoped-for 25.

  • The D. Michael Collins Northwest Substation on Sylvania Avenue was closed last year.
  • Toledo City Council approved $500,000 for the new community policing station in 2026.

The players

Toledo Police Chief Mike Troendle

The police chief who says staffing the new community policing station will be a challenge due to expected retirements and a smaller recruit class.

Sam Melden

The Toledo City Council member who proposed the funding for the new community policing station.

Gary Harmon

A landlord in the west Toledo area who is excited about the prospect of the new community policing station and believes it will improve response times and make the neighborhood feel safer.

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What they’re saying

“I thought it was still needed.”

— Gary Harmon, Landlord

“It's going to overlap some districts. There's a good strategy there, but it's important to maintain a police presence in west Toledo and in my district.”

— Sam Melden, Toledo City Council Member

“From an operational standpoint, could we do without it? Yes, we could. But from a community standpoint, it's something that our community wants. So we are responsive to our community.”

— Mike Troendle, Toledo Police Chief

What’s next

The Toledo Police Department is still determining the exact location and staffing plan for the new community policing station.

The takeaway

The new community policing station in west Toledo is a response to community demands for increased police presence, but the Toledo Police Department faces staffing challenges that could make it difficult to fully staff the new station and maintain adequate coverage across the city.