Monday evening, the Village of Russells Point welcomed its newest officer, Patrick Stolzenburg, at its council meeting.
The Russells Point Police Department has received funding through the Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Diversion Program (DART) grant, supporting a community-based approach to addressing substance use and behavioral health crises in the Indian Lake region.
According to Russells Point Police Chief Joe Freyhof, the grant will fund a full-time Outreach Coordinator position connected to the Logan County Quick Response Team (QRT).
The role will focus on rapid follow-up with individuals affected by overdoses, substance use disorders, and mental health emergencies, providing outreach and direct connections to treatment, recovery support, and community services.
The Indian Lake region has been identified as a high-risk area within Logan County due to elevated overdose rates and limited access to treatment and behavioral health resources.
The grant will allow the department to expand partnerships with community organizations to improve response and follow-up services for residents in need.
Community partners involved in the program include the Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Services (MHDAS) Board of Logan and Champaign Counties, Coleman Health Services, Logan County Health District, Mary Rutan Hospital, Recovery Zone Peer Recovery Center, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, Community Health and Wellness, and TCN Behavioral Health.
Officer Stolzenburg was recently selected to serve as the department’s Outreach Coordinator and joins the department from Lima, and is a graduate of Rhodes State College, where he completed the basic police academy.
He previously served as an auxiliary officer in Botkins and has also worked full-time at Honda Transmission for Generac as part of their security team.
In preparation for the position, Officer Stolzenburg recently completed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, gaining specialized skills in de-escalation, behavioral health response, and communication strategies when responding to individuals experiencing mental health or substance-related crises.
Over the past several weeks, he has also met with various countywide stakeholders, including peer support staff, Recovery Zone, Judge Braig’s Drug Court team, the Logan County Health Department Harm Reduction program, the Logan County Quick Response Team, and the Logan/Champaign Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Board.
Outside of work, Stolzenburg enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, whose ages range from 8 to 17.
He also enjoys bicycle rides, hiking with his family, and riding his motorcycle.
Chief Freyhof said programs like the DART grant allow law enforcement and community partners to work together to connect individuals with the help they need.
“Officer Stolzenburg’s role will strengthen our ability to respond not only to addiction-related incidents but also to mental health emergencies, ensuring individuals and families have access to the right resources at the right time,” Freyhof said.
Based on his experience and the grant structure, Stolzenburg has been offered a starting wage of $23 per hour.
Following completion of a modified community partner integration program, he will begin standard field training with the department.
The program represents another step toward improving coordinated care and response for residents throughout the Indian Lake area.
