Edwardsburg’s Police Department is getting a new start in 2015 with a new chief.

Wednesday night during the department’s board meeting, Chief Tim Kozal reported some new things have to be purchased and a couple of police officers need to be hired.

Kozal announced that he is looking for one full-time officer and one or two part-time officers. He will be posting the positions.

The chief said he is also looking for a new attorney, particularly one that is more reasonable in costs than the department’s present legal representation.

Kozal is also looking for a new phone system to update the present system, which currently has four lines coming into the police station.

“We are looking at a better service,” Kozal said. “We want to give people the customer service they need.”

He said the department does not have a clerk and one of the officers is being utilized to take the calls at the present time.

He said other equipment updates needed are the activation of the department’s Tasers. There are six in the department, but only five of them work. Also, there is only one defibrillator in the department that works and it needs a new battery. There are five that are out of warranty.

Kozal said there will be training on the machines for the whole department and they will be held once a month.

The board authorized Kozal to open a credit card for the department for equipment with a limit of $500 in purchases.

Trustee Nancy Stoner reported that the Village of Edwardsburg is working on a project to get the combined Edwardsburg village and police department sign lighted.

Kozal also reported that he has a car at the Edwardsburg Public Schools’ dismissal time every day.

Karen Robinson, the wife of late officer Brian Robinson, was presented a plaque of appreciation.

The plague, saying “Thank you for Brian’s service,” will be mounted on the wall of the department’s office.