Ada Police Department names Cooper next chief
Dec. 21—LIMA — The Ada Police Department will start the new year under new leadership, the department announced Wednesday.
Delphos Police Sergeant Alec Cooper will replace Chief Michael Harnishfeger on Jan. 9, 2023, according to a press release. Harnishfeger will work alongside Cooper in an advisory role until he retires at the end of June 2023.
According to the release, Cooper will be officially sworn in at the Ada Village Council on Jan. 10, 2023. Cooper has had a decorated career and previously worked for the Ada Department.
Cooper has worked as a sergeant for Delphos for five years, managing their Law Enforcement Automated Data System, firearms instruction, policy review and implementation and other administrative duties, according to the release. At the Ada department, he worked for about 7 1/2 years as a dispatcher and as a full- and part-time officer.
Harnishfeger said while Cooper was at Ada, he saw a lot of leadership potential and the ability to shoulder several different types of responsibilities at once.
Cooper was named Ada's Officer of the Year in 2014 and was named the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Officer of the Year for nine of the last 10 years with either the Ada or Delphos Police Departments.
Harnishfeger said Cooper's experience and history of handling administrative duties helped him stand out from 10 other applicants, and the department is excited to host him once again.
According to the release, Harnishfeger has served the Ada department for 22 years as chief. He will retire with 39 years in the law enforcement profession.
Harnishfeger said he plans to continue working part-time with the department, likely as a detective or helping the detective bureau.
The new chief will attend specific training for the role in early 2023 and will take some day courses in preparation. He will complete the Police Executive Leadership College just before Harnishfeger's retirement.
"Alec is positioned well for Ada's next police chief, and we welcome him to our department once again," the release stated.
