Chief Mannarino Retires from the Brecksville Police Department

After more than 30 years with the Brecksville Police Department, Richard E. Mannarino is saying goodbye. 

Mannarino, who has been the city’s police chief for about the past year and a half, retired on Friday. 

Mannarino said he’ll miss the officers he’s worked with in the department, but he’s sure he’ll find new ways to stay involved and productive. He had a good working relationship with the officers, the mayor and City Council. 

“So that was very rewarding,” he said. 

Mayor Jerry N. Hruby said he knew 34 years ago—when he first interviewed Mannarino—that he would be a good officer and a leader. He was “enthused” and “excited.”

“We knew then he was going to be an excellent police officer,” Hruby said.

He did an “exceptional” job in his time as chief, Hruby said, bringing in new officers and dispatchers and updating the station’s equipment. Hruby said he knew that Mannarino hesitated to continue his involvement in the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund’s Deferred Retirement Option Plan, because it meant he would soon have to retire.

Mannarino said he’s planning to look for ways to stay involved in the community, possibly through volunteer work, and he’s looking forward to a trip with his wife Diane this spring.

Michael J. Carlin took over as chief on Saturday. Carlin served as the acting interim chief after Dennis A. Kancler retired in 2011.