John Sharits. Under present-day conditions, one of the most important members of the mayor's cabinet is the chief of police. At Troy, Ohio, this office is being very satisfactorily filled by John Sharits, an officer of experience, ability and courage. Chief Sharits was born at Germantown, Ohio, January 23, 1872, a son of John Wesley and Mary Alice (Emerick) Sharits, agricultural people of that community who were the parents of eleven children. With their children, John W. and Mary A. Sharits moved to Union City, Ohio, and there John Sharits attended school. As a youth he learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed at Union City and elsewhere until 1906, then moving to Troy, where he entered the services of the Troy Bentwood factory. Subsequently he became a member of the Troy police department, in addition to which he acted as merchant policeman. He was appointed chief of police of the Miami Trailer Company during the war period, and January 1, 1920, was appointed chief of police of Troy. In his official capacity he has shown marked resource in handling affairs during occasions of stress and excitement, and his courage and physical prowess have been put to the test repeatedly and not found wanting. Chief Sharits married Myrtle, daughter of Jacob and Alice (Myley) Elicker, two of whose brothers, Robert and Ralph Elicker, served with the American Expeditionary Forces during the great World war. To Chief and Mrs. Sharits there have been born eight children: Mary, Leslie, Edward, Maude, David, Harry, Jennie and John. The family holds membership in the First Christian Church of Troy, and Chief Sharits is a popular and valued member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Loyal Order of Moose.