PAMELA E. GRAN
JEFFERSON — Small-town life suits Steve Febel just fine and his love for Jefferson has kept him living and working here for most of his life.
Febel, a 1976 graduate of Jefferson Area High School, continues to serve this small village as head of its police department, a position he has held since August 1991.
“Jefferson has been an enjoyable place to work,” said Febel recently as he sat behind his desk at the police station on the corner of Jefferson and Market streets. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Febel actually grew up in Eagleville, a tiny hamlet just a stone’s throw from the western boundary of Jefferson, but the village has been his home for many years.
Febel’s journey to becoming police chief began in 1979 when well-known local personality Rich Brainard convinced him to join Jefferson’s auxiliary force. He then underwent training at the police academy in Conneaut in order to be placed on the department’s regular roster. The academy at that time was put on by the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department, Febel said.
A binder several inches thick in Febel’s office holds the dozens of certificates that evidence the subsequent training he has undergone in the years since those early days. One wall of his office is covered with plaques and other awards he has earned throughout his career.
A collection of 140 police department patches Febel has spent 30 years amassing, once adorned an adjacent wall, but the patches have since been relegated to a file cabinet drawer to cut down on clutter, Febel said.
Febel credits the influence of his grandfather for his strong work ethic. It was his grandfather who often told the future police officer that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.
Over the course of his career, there have been a great many character-building influences, both within law enforcement and outside the field, according to Febel. One-time county sheriff William Johnston helped to mold him into the man he is today, Febel said, as did Ken Johnson, the chief of the department when Febel joined the force.
“They both taught me a lot,” Febel said.
Another man who had valuable lessons for Febel was the late local political icon, Stan Nizen, who served multiple terms as mayor of this small village of 3,500.
“He taught me how to save money, and the value of a buck … what you can really get for your buck,” Febel said.
Nizen did this by always asking that Febel take the time to truly consider if what he was asking to get for his department was something that was actually needed.
“When I really thought about it, there were times that I was able to say maybe this can wait until another time or until there is more money,” Febel said.
By the same token, when there was justification and as long as Febel did his research and found the best possible price for the purchase, Nizen readily approved the expenditure.
It was Nizen who swore Febel in as chief in 1991.
Despite law enforcement becoming a part of his blood, Febel admitted that he nearly left the force.
“There was a point in my career when I (thought) I am outta here,” Febel noted, shaking his head and gesturing over the memory as he spotted current village council member Ken Fertig making one of his frequent visits to the chief’s office. “He’s responsible for me (still) being here.”
Fertig laughed at the comment, saying, “I just told him, you’re not going to quit!”
Fortunately for the community, Febel took Fertig’s words to heart and this August he marked 30 years on the force.
Had Febel indeed quit back then, he likely would have returned to his second career choice of being a mechanic.
“Or I would have liked to go back to school and become a teacher,” Febel said, adding that seventh- and eighth-grade history would have been the avenue he’d have taken.
While his career certainly has had its ups and downs, one of the worst things to happen was the shooting death of Walter Olson on March 25, 2000, someone Febel knew well as a former auxiliary police officer. Despite his personal connection, however, Febel said he had to put all that aside.
“That’s when your training kicks in. You know you have a job to do. You can’t get personally involved,” Febel said.
The time for grieving came once the investigation was complete and the initial shock wore off, Febel added, noting that while strict training kept him and his fellow officers focused on the task at hand, it didn’t mean they weren’t affected.
“We do have a soft spot that not too many people see too often,” he said.
When he talks about the other members of his department, Febel’s eyes light up with pride.
“I’m proud of all my troops. They all do their job very well,” Febel said. “I couldn’t be happier.”
Serving under Febel currently are fulltime officers Tim Blon, Dave Wassie, Gary Nelson and Joe Ericksen, as well as part-timer Anthony Radisill.
Another indispensable part of the team is long-time dispatcher Diane Tressler.
“She really takes care of this office. She proofs reports, gets things ready for court,” Febel said. “I’d say she’s just about irreplaceable.”
Others in Febel’s life who are irreplaceable are his family: parents Pete and JoAnn, who also live in Jefferson; brother Gary, who was inducted into the Ashtabula County Football Hall of Fame in 2009; sister Sandy; his daughters Ashley and Sara; and of course his wife of 28 years, Denise.
“I want to thank all of my family for standing behind me over the years,” Febel said. “Especially my wife, Denise. There were Christmases when I had to work and she had to do everything. I really appreciate that.”
A relatively new addition to his family is 3-year-old Fred. Fred is Febel’s K-9 partner, a yellow Labrador Retriever, who uses his sensitive nose not only as a sort of alarm clock to wake the chief early in the morning, but to sniff out drugs.
Fred accompanies the chief as he makes his daily stops around town, ever ready to go into action should the situation warrant. In fact, Fred occasionally is seen in the halls of the local high school if drug activity is suspected, Febel said.
Febel added that speaking at the school is one of the highlights of his job.
“I really like working with the kids at the high school,” Febel said, noting that he strives to earn their respect, as well. “I think we have a good relationship with the kids in this town.”
That enjoyment extends to the extensive volunteer coaching he’d done in multiple sports for 25 years in the school system.
Febel stressed that he wants the community’s children and adults alike to feel free to call the department anytime they feel there is a need.
“We want (people) to call. Don’t be afraid that you’re bothering us. That’s what we’re here for,” Febel said.
In addition to his duties as police chief, Febel is also a certified range instructor, training law enforcement personnel across the county vital skills in firearm use and safety. He also is a member of the county’s SWAT team.
