Patrick J. BerarducciChief of Police
Medina, OH
Patrick J. Berarducci was appointed Chief of the Medina Police Department in August of 2009. In subscribing to the “Broken Windows Theory” of policing or “order maintenance policing” the veteran Chief is an advocate for strong enforcement of quality of life crimes as a means to help reduce overall crime in a community. He will drive initiatives in Medina aimed at utilizing technology and innovative partnerships to further reduce crime and enhance the quality of life in the community.
The Chief comes to the Medina Police Department after serving 2 ½ years as Police Chief in Boardman, OH and a career of more than 29 years with the United States Justice Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and its predecessor, the United States Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
Among his many honors, Chief Berarducci holds the United States Treasury Department’s Medal of Valor for heroism and bravery, the Albert Gallatin Award for a career of unblemished faithful service to the United States Treasury Department, and the William French Smith Award from the United States Attorney General for his role in cooperative law enforcement. He is also a six-time recipient of the Department's Special Achievement Award and a five-time recipient of the Department's Special Act or Service Award.
Chief Berarducci began his law enforcement career with the Youngstown Police Department in 1974 and with ATF as a Special Agent in 1978 assigned to the Cleveland, OH office. His work has included the investigation of Federal firearms, explosives and arson violations. In 1982, then Agent Berarducci was assigned to Vice President George Bush’s South Florida Violent Crime Task Force in Miami, FL. He was instrumental in forming the Caribbean Gang Task Force operating from the US Attorney’s offices in Cleveland, OH and led numerous investigations involving gang activity, murder and narcotics trafficking.
During his ATF career, the Chief traveled extensively across the country as an instructor for ATF in critical incident management and media relations as well as a member of the Bureau’s critical incident response teams. He was a member of the Incident Command Staff for the Oklahoma City Bombing Investigation as well as the Washington, DC Sniper Investigation and the ATF Hurricane Katrina Response Team. He has been a featured speaker for many organizations and training seminars including the American Petroleum Institutes’ Crisis Management Conferences, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency Anti-Terrorism Seminars and BP America.
He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the Ohio Association Chiefs of Police (OACP), the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Association of Retirees (ATFAR).
Berarducci and his wife Judy lived in Medina for 30 years, raising three children prior to his serving as Chief in Boardman. The couple now has returned to the family's long-time home in Medina.
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