Staff photo/ Bob Coupland Hubbard Township retiring police Chief Todd Coonce, left, welcomes Greg Tarr, who will begin his duties Friday as the new chief. At a special meeting Monday, Hubbard Township trustees named Tarr to lead the department. He had mostly recently been a sergeant in the department. Coonce had been in law enforcement for 39 years.

HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — Township trustees welcomed a new police chief while recognizing the retiring chief, who served the community for more than 39 years.

Trustees on Monday named Sgt. Greg Tarr as chief effective Friday. He will replace Todd Coonce who is stepping down the same day.

“I look forward to leading the department and my officers into a new year. This past year has been a difficult year for everyone. I will meet with all the staff next week to discuss operations,” Tarr said.

Tarr, a Hubbard city resident, has spent his entire 27-year police career with the department, the past seven as sergeant. He said his main priority is to serve the residents.

“We will address efficiency with less staffing. Because of the financial situation we and other departments face, we have to find ways to continue to perform at a high level with less resources,” Tarr said.

“The officers are willing to step up and take on additional duties, which is what we have to do. The challenge for many today is trying to do more with less and provide outstanding service,” Tarr said.

Trustees presented a plaque to Coonce for his nearly 40 years of service in law enforcement. He became chief in 1995. Coonce earned many honors over the years for his service and solving of criminal cases including police officer of the year in 1991. He also was a member of the local drug task force from 1992 to 1994.

“It has been a hell of a ride. I am glad I had the opportunity to serve and protect this great community. That is what I will miss the most,” Coonce said.

“I have worked with (Trustee Fred) Hanley since Day One. I appreciate the support I have received from the trustees and the public. I am fortunate I am able to hand off the chief position to a very good person. Sgt Tarr will be a great leader and will do a lot of good things for Hubbard Township.”

Coonce said the biggest changes he has seen in his near 40 years are the financial issues.

“Finances have been a battle that we have seen each year I have been chief, especially in the last seven years. There has been loss of funding from the state which created a big challenge with trying to keep the service with less to work with,” he said.

Coonce said while he is retiring a chief, he is not completely retiring.

“In the near future, I will be taking on another position,” Coonce said but did not indicate what it is.

Trustee Rick Hernandez, who swore Tarr into office, said the trustees look forward to working with Tarr.

“He is a longtime veteran of the department and look forward to a bright future ahead with him,” Hernandez said.