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New Columbiana officer following in dad’s footsteps

Morning Journal/Katie White Columbiana Patrolman Kevin Kloss pins the badge on his daughter Mary during the council meeting in which she was sworn in as a new full-time police officer for the city. Chief Tim Gladis looks on.

COLUMBIANA — The city’s newest full-time police officer is the daughter of a full-time patrolman who has been with the force more than three decades.

Mary Kloss was administered the oath of office by Municipal Attorney Mark Hutson after council approved her hiring.

She is the daughter of patrolman Kevin Kloss, who first joined the Columbiana force as an auxiliary officer in 1983. He became a full-time officer in 1989.

“Mary comes from a very good bloodline. I think she is going to do a great job. I think she has already done a great job,” police Chief Tim Gladis said.

Mary Kloss first joined the department’s Explorer post when she was 14 and moved her way up through the ranks of the Explorer post and then onto the auxiliary force.

She has served on the auxiliary force since 2015 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant on that force in May of 2017.

She completed Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy training in July of this year and earned a score of 95 percent in her class, which Gladis noted is difficult to achieve.

Gladis also said she is three months away from completing a four-year degree in criminology and justice studies with a minor in psychology at Kent State University.

She is currently working as manager of the Columbiana Dairy Queen, where she has worked for the past four years and is also a caregiver for Active Home Care.

“I think it’s great to see a generational cycle with this group,” Gladis said of the Kloss family’s involvement with the local department.

Gladis also said that Elaine Kloss, Mary’s mother, is the department’s go-to regarding domestic violence cases through her involvement with the Christina House.

Kevin Kloss was able to pin the badge on his daughter’s new uniform during the meeting, as his wife looked on.

kwhite@mojonews.com

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