During the past month, the Bellefontaine Police Department has sworn in three new officers for service in respective ceremonies at the Bellefontaine City Council Chambers: 

ABOVE: Zachary Trout of Bellefontaine, left, was administered the oath of office by Bellefontaine Mayor David Crissman June 4. Officer Trout previously was a patrol officer with the Piqua Police Department from October of 2021 until February of 2022 before becoming a deputy sheriff with the Union County Sheriff’s Office. He served as a patrol deputy and field training officer with Union County before making the recent switch to BPD.  He is currently in his field training and is due to be released to solo patrol duties soon. (BELLEFONTAINE POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTO)

ABOVE: Bellefontaine Police Department auxiliary officer Jayde Sheeley, right, was sworn-in as a full-time officer June 23 by Mayor Crissman. In May of 2024, Sheeley previously became a fulltime BPD officer before deciding to step away from full-time law enforcement in July of 2025, at which time she became an auxiliary officer for the agency.  Her placement back to fulltime status places two female officers within BPD’s ranks. Officer Sheeley is a trained Crisis Negotiator for the agency and she is currently engaged in a brief training refresher and will be back on solo patrol duties soon. (BELLEFONTAINE POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTO)

ABOVE: Wokelle Googeg, right, was sworn-in as a fulltime Bellefontaine Police Department officer July 6 by Mayor Crissman. He graduated from Edison State Community College’s basic police academy in Piqua last month and passed his state peace officer’s examination.  A resident of the Sidney area, his hiring places 32 fulltime sworn officers within the agency. Officer Googeg begins his field training July 27. (BELLEFONTAINE POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTO)