The City of Piqua is proud to announce that Officer Chris Walters has earned promotion to the rank of lieutenant with the Piqua Police Department.
Piqua City Manager Paul Oberdorfer administered the oath of office during a special ceremony held Tuesday, July 8. Walters steps into his new leadership role after nearly a decade of service to the Piqua community.
Lt. Walters began his law enforcement career at the Covington Police Department before joining the Piqua Police Department in 2015. He has since served in a variety of roles including field training officer, Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA) examiner and a member of the Piqua-Sidney Tactical Response Team.
For the past five years, Walters served as a school resource officer at Piqua City Schools, where he helped create a high school program focused on introducing students to careers in criminal justice. He also plays an active role in organizing key community outreach events such as National Night Out, Careful Corners, Coffee with a Cop and Police in the Parks.
“Walters has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to mentorship and community engagement,” Police Chief Rick Byron said. “His passion for public service and dedication to supporting the next generation of officers make him an outstanding addition to our leadership team.”
Originally from the New Carlisle area, Walters graduated from Bethel High School and now resides in Covington with his wife, Angela Walters. He is a proud stepfather to Claudia and Morgan.
Lt. Walters said he is honored to step into this new leadership role within the Piqua Police Department.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing to serve this wonderful community in my new role,” Walters said. “I am passionate about helping people succeed and equally committed to supporting and developing future leaders in law enforcement.”
The process of selecting a lieutenant is governed by rules and regulations established by the Civil Service Commission and is administered by the City of Piqua’s human resources director.
In this promotional process, the City’s established procedure included consideration of internal candidates utilizing a written exam where candidates were required to achieve a minimum passing score to advance to an assessment center proctored by the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police. Candidates also participated in a thorough panel interview process. The panel of five included two community members, the human resources director, the utilities director and the police chief.
“Chris performed exceptionally well in a competitive promotional process,” City of Piqua Human Resources Director Catherine Bogan said. “His professionalism, leadership and commitment to community-oriented policing clearly stood out. We’re excited to see him grow in this new role and help guide the department’s future.”
For more information about the Piqua Police Department or the Civil Service Commission, visit piquaoh.gov.
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