The following article from January 2019 was published on the occasion of Dominic Francis being named 2018 Officer of the Year by the Bluffton Police Department. We are repeating it on the occasion of his death in the line of duty on March 31, 2022.

“This officer makes work enjoyable.” That's how Bluffton police chief, Ryan Burkholder describes Dominic Francis.

Bluffton police selected Francis as their “officer of the year,” for 2018, according to Burkholder.

“This award is given to Officer Francis nominated by his peers,” Burkholder said at the Jan. 14 Bluffton council meeting.

“Officer Francis is very proactive in traffic enforcement and taking drugs off the streets. He is always willing to stay past shift and assist other officers,” continued Burkholder, added that Francis always has a positive and motivating attitude.

Bluffton residents may not see much of Francis in the winter since his shift is 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

In a conversation with him earlier this week, it’s obvious that he see residents, as he mentioned to the Icon editor that he passes by Grove Street frequently as the editor walks his dog at night.

Francis responded to 1,400 calls in 2018. He issues 130 citations, was responsible for 37 drug-related arrests and 16 driving under the influence (DUI) pullovers.

A 1998 graduate of Cory-Rawson High School, Francis then graduated from the University of Findlay in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He graduated from the police academy the next year.

Prior to joining the Bluffton police department in 2010 he was a member of the Findlay police department and earlier a member of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.

He and his wife, Ricki, have two children.