Bill Becker: Deerfield Township's New Interim Administrator

Bill Becker, a Middletown City Councilman, former police chief, and city manager, was appointed as Deerfield Township's new interim administrator on Wednesday. After being chosen from three potential candidates, trustees approved a contract that will start on September 1, 2009 and end on January 31, 2010. Becker will continue to serve the Middletown City Council.

Becker, who told the Middletown Journal that he was "looking forward to an exciting challenge," says his main focus will be controlling the growth in the Interstate 71 corridor. Trustees President Dan Corey says he believes Becker will provide leadership needed over the next five months. Dan Evers, the Township's previous administrator resigned on July 10, 2009.

Becker served in the United States Army in the Military Police Unit and has devoted his life to public service ever since. He went on to become a police officer and took on a number of roles in that capacity. He was a member of the SWAT team, Water Rescue Unit, Recruit School Instructor, a detective, and eventually became Chief of the Middletown Police Department, where he was responsible for 93 officers, 49 employees, and a $10 million budget. Eventually, he would become the Middletown City Manger. In 2007, he was elected to the Middletown City Council to serve a four-year term.

A Middletown resident, Becker has been involved with Fenwick High School boys and girls basketball, has served as a youth sports coach, served on the TV Middletown Board, the Butler Behavior Health Services Board, and the Warren County Municipal League Executive Committee. He is a graduate of Hamilton Badin High School and the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Administration. He is also a member of several law enforcement and civil service-related associations.

Middletown Councilman Seeks EMA Position

Councilman from Middletown, Ohio, Bill Becker has expressed interest in becoming the new director of the EMA, or the Butler County Emergency Management Agency. Becker announced on Tuesday, January 27th, that he talked to the Butler County Commission about him becoming the new EMA director.

In 2007 Becker was elected as an at-large member of council for Middletown and has also served as the Middletown City Manager and Middletown's Police Chief. Becker stated, " I think I have the experience and I know most of the Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, and managers in the county to work through the issues. I think it would be challenging and rewarding, and it would get me back into public safety. I would be glad to get involved."

The Butler County EMA is n organization dedicated to the preparedness of Butler County in case of an emergency like flood or tornado for example. Current EMA director Bill Turner submitted his resignation effective March 2nd in the beginning of this month. The reasons for him doing this is due to the fact that the county's Police Chiefs expressed a lack of confidence in Turner when the hurricane windstorms tore through the county last September.

Don Dixon, president of the Butler County Commission, said he was aware of Becker's interest in the job. He also added that he did not know of any other people interested in the job. According to Dixon, it would be up to the EMA board to determine the time line, criteria, and protocols to appoint a new director. In early February, EMA should be done with their reorganizing process. Whether or not Becker, if he receives the title of Director of EMA, will have to resign his seat as Councilman is still undetermined. We wish Becker the best of luck in his pursuit of the job.