Todd Draper announces retirement as Medina police chief

Draper to end 21-year career with Medina PD on Aug. 30

Photos by Tom Rivers: Todd Draper receives the police chief’s pin from his father Don Draper, a retired Medina police chief, during a swearing in ceremony on June 12, 2023. Todd Draper announced he will be retiring Aug. 30, ending a 21 year career with the Medina PD, including about two years as the police chief.

MEDINA – Todd Draper, the Medina police chief, will be retiring from the role on Aug. 30. Draper has been the chief since June 12, 2023.

He has worked for Medina for 21 years, including 8 ½ years as a K9 handler until Kye, a Belgian Malinois, retired in November 2020.

Draper was praised for being a hard-working police chief with a strong commitment to his hometown.

“Todd will be missed tremendously by this village,” said Jess Marciano, a village trustee.

She has served on the National Night Out planning committee with Draper in recent years. The event next week on Sug. 5 will be in Medina and Draper will again be in the dunk tank. National Night Out is a drug-free event intended to connect residents with first responders and community organizations.

Marciano also was on a Police Advisry Committee with Draper for several years.

“Todd has been a very receptive police chief,” Marciano said during this evening’s board meeting. “I’m really sad to see him leave.”

Draper was congratulated by board members for his impending retirement. He leaves the village with another department head vacancy to fill following the resignation of Matt Jackson as fire chief on July 12. Jackson cited a “constant battle” with some board members for his resignation.

The police department has been understaffed with some officers leaving for other departments where the pay is much higher. The board during its budget process in April also announced it was ending the K9 program and no longer would be providing two school resource officers at Medina school district. The district reimbursed Medina for nearly all of the expense, but board members said it didn’t fully cover the cost and the two SROs were needed to help cover shifts in the department.

Mayor Marguerite Sherman said the police chief’s test won’t be offered until the spring 2026. Medina may have to do a conditional appointment to fill the position until a new chief can take and pass the exam.

Draper during his career completed a 10-week management/leadership program from the FBI’s National Academy in 2022. He completed six classes at the National Academy: Critical Incident Management, Essentials of Leadership, Physical Training/Wellness Breaking Barriers and Building Communities, and An Overview of Forensic Science for Law Enforcement Managers.

He welcomed the chance to work with community members. He will be at the National Night Out for what Marciano said will be an “extended” time in the dunk tank.

Todd Draper is shown on Oct. 28, 2020 when he stopped by the Oak Orchard Lementary School with Kye, the Medina PD’s retiring K9. Draper served as the dog’s handler for 8 ½ years. This photo was during the Covid pandemic when people were required to wear masks.