Jena Police Department

08/04/2026

The backpacks are packed, the alarms are set, and it’s time to trade summer fun for school days! 🍎📚 Before everyone hits the road, Chief Scott McLendon has a few fun reminders to help keep this school year safe.

🛑 DO slow down in school zones.
🏁 DON’T race the school bell—you’ll never win!

🚌 DO stop for school buses.
🚫 DON’T drive around a bus with its stop arm out.

🚸 DO watch for little feet crossing the street.
👀 DON’T assume children see your vehicle.

📵 DO keep your eyes on the road.
📱 DON’T let your phone make the drive for you.

👍🏻 DO be patient during drop-off and pick-up.
😅 DON’T let a long line ruin your morning. Remember this is some baby’s first year at school and they’re nervous.

🚙 DO keep children buckled until time to get out of vehicle.
✋🏻DON’T let children stand and bounce around in the car.

🍎 DO be kind to classmates, teachers, bus drivers, and officers.
💙 DON’T forget that kindness is contagious!

⭐ Back-to-School Bonus Tips
📚 Learning is cool.
😄 Smiles are free.
👋 Wave at the officer helping make traffic run smoothly.
🌟 Make this your best year yet!

From all of us at the Jena Police Department, we hope every student has a fantastic first day and an even better year ahead.

08/03/2026

📸🎒 BEFORE YOU POST THAT FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL PHOTO… READ THIS! 🎒📸

We LOVE seeing all the smiling faces on the first day of school! 🍎✏️ Before you hit “Post,” take a quick look at what your photo may be sharing.

✅ Include:

📚 Big smiles!
🎒 Cute backpacks and first-day excitement.
🌟 Grade level
💙 School spirit and lots of proud parent moments.

❌ Avoid Including:

🏫 The name of your child’s school on shirts, signs, or in the background.
🚌 Bus numbers or bus stop locations.
🏠 Your home address or house numbers.
📍 Location tags that reveal where your child is in real time.
📝 Teacher names, classroom numbers, or class schedules.
👧 Name tags that display your child’s full name.

We want everyone to celebrate the new school year while keeping safety in mind.

Have an amazing, safe, and successful school year! Chief Scott McLendon cannot wait to see all of those little hands waving back in the morning drop off line. 🚔💙

07/23/2026

Bike found at the post office! We have it at our office!

07/22/2026

Attention
DOT is working on the light at the intersection of 84 & 127. Drive with caution ⚠️

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

A big shoutout to the Jena Fire Department for their outstanding work responding to a structure fire today.

In this extreme heat, these firefighters put on heavy gear and worked tirelessly to protect lives and property. Their dedication and professionalism are truly appreciated.

Thank you for your hard work and for all you do for our community. We are proud to serve alongside you! 🚒🚓

- Chief Scott McLendon

07/09/2026

🚨 SCAM ALERT 🚨

We want to make our community aware of a scam that has recently been reported involving individuals claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House (PCH).

Scammers are contacting people by phone, text, email, or social media, telling them they have won a large cash prize or lottery. The catch? They claim you must first pay taxes, fees, or processing costs before your winnings can be released.

This is a scam.

💰 Remember: If you truly win a legitimate prize, you should never have to pay money upfront to receive it. Legitimate organizations do not require winners to send gift cards, wire money, use payment apps, or mail cash to claim a prize.

Protect yourself by:
• Never sending money to claim a prize.
• Never giving out your bank account, Social Security number, or other personal information to someone claiming you’ve won.
• Hanging up if something doesn’t feel right.
• Talking to a trusted family member or friend before sending money.

Sharing this post could help prevent a friend, neighbor, or loved one from becoming the next victim.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stay alert and help us spread the word!

07/08/2026

📣 Local Businesses — We’d Love Your Help!

The Jena Police Department has FREE educational brochures/ magazines available for businesses that would like to help keep our community informed.

Right now, our most popular topics are:
💊 Drug Facts & Awareness
🛡️ Cybersecurity, Scams & Fraud Prevention

If you have a front counter, waiting room, office, or lobby where customers could pick up helpful information, we’d love to provide you with these brochures/magazines at no cost.

If you’re interested, simply comment below, send us a Facebook message, or give us a call. We’ll be happy to bring them by!

Together, we can help educate our community and keep our neighbors safe. Thank you for your support!

07/04/2026

🚨Public Service Announcement 🚨

Join us this Saturday, July 4, as we celebrate America’s 250th Birthday at the Town of Jena Amphitheater! We encourage everyone to come out and support the Red River Wind Symphony as they kick off the celebration with a special concert beginning at 9:30 a.m.

🚧 Road Closure Notice:
Sycamore Street will be closed from the Dog Trot House to the park entrance during the festivities. Please plan ahead, use alternate routes, and watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and event traffic in the area.

🎆 Event Highlights:
🎶 9:30 a.m. – Red River Wind Symphony Concert
🚲 10:30 a.m. – Bike/Walk Parade
🇺🇸 11:00 a.m. – Independence Day Program, followed by family activities, refreshments, games, and more!

Happy Independence Day from the Jena Police Department! 🇺🇸👮

06/27/2026

🎉 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR CHIEF! 🎉

Thank you for your leadership, your dedication to the Town of Jena, and for always steering this department in the right direction (even when your crew occasionally tries to rock the boat).

We hope your day is filled with plenty of laughs, good food, and absolutely no emergency calls.

Happy Birthday, Chief! We appreciate all you do and wish you many more years of smooth sailing! ⚓🚔🎂