Ashland Welcomes Three New Police Officers in Swearing-In Ceremony
ASHLAND – With friends, family, and fellow officers filling Ashland City Council chambers, Mayor Matt Miller swore in three new members of the Ashland Division of Police on Wednesday morning, September 10, 2025.
The ceremony, held at 11:00 a.m., marked a milestone for the department as two recruits and one lateral transfer officially took their oath of service. Before administering the oath, Mayor Miller shared a reflective passage written by Charles Edison, son of inventor Thomas Edison, that emphasized the enduring value of honor.
“Charles Edison once recalled that when a reporter asked his father for advice for youth, Thomas Edison said, ‘Youth never takes advice,’” Miller told the audience. “But Charles went on to say that the basic ingredient of any advice for young people is a resurrection of honor—duty, responsibility, knowledge, and respect for eternal values. He summed it up in a phrase I think applies to all of us in public service: When in doubt—do right.”
Ashland Police Chief David A. Lay said the addition of the new officers brings the division’s staffing level to 33, including two school resource officers—one newly assigned to Reagan and Edison Elementary Schools.
“This is an exciting group,” Lay said. “Each one of these recruits brings something unique to the department.”
Morgan Shilliday began her career with the Ashland Police Division several years ago, serving in the Records Bureau and later as secretary in the Detective Bureau. Chief Lay noted that it has been decades since an employee from dispatch or records transitioned to becoming a certified peace officer.
Austin Graska, a Mansfield-area native, is entering law enforcement later in life, something Lay said could add maturity and perspective to the job. Graska and Shilliday both recently graduated from North Central Technical College’s Police Academy in August and are ready to begin field training.
Jacob Hemenway comes to the division as a lateral transfer after five years with the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. A member of the county’s Special Response Team, Hemenway brings valuable experience but is also taking a significant step by starting fresh in a new department. “It’s not easy to leave behind seniority and start over,” Lay said. “But his familiarity with the area and with many of our officers will make his transition smoother.”
For the new officers, the oath represents both a personal calling and a responsibility to the Ashland community. Chief Lay emphasized that their unique backgrounds—ranging from administrative experience to seasoned law enforcement service—strengthen the department as it moves forward.
“These officers are stepping into a profession that demands honor, courage, and service,” Miller said. “We are proud to welcome them into our ranks and look forward to the contributions they will make to Ashland.”
