West Jefferson Police Department

10/16/2026

This past week, we were honored to welcome Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson to the West Jefferson Police Department. During his visit, he recognized WJPD’s strong culture, teamwork, and dedication to service.

He took the time to personally thank and commend our staff and meet with the Schroder family following a recent call for service involving their child. We appreciate not only his recognition of our department but also his genuine compassion and sincere concern for the well-being of our community.

As leaders, it’s important to recognize and highlight the efforts of our officers, especially the everyday acts of service and dedication that might otherwise go unnoticed. Taking the time to recognize these efforts reinforces our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, and Respect, values we strive to uphold throughout our profession.

We’re proud of our team and grateful for the officers who show up every day with a genuine commitment to serving West Jeff. At the heart of it all, that’s what serving others is truly about.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GoPVpHjCe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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10/15/2026

We had the opportunity to meet with the RaceTrac team today and we’re excited to welcome them!

Facilities look amazing, and staff are upbeat and friendly. We appreciate the support and kindness they have already shown our police department.

Looking forward to building a great working relationship and serving them for years to come!
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10/14/2026

***UPDATE*** Scene is now clear…
🚨 TRAFFIC ALERT, US 40 NEAR 142NE 🚨

Our officers and Jefferson Township Medics are currently on scene investigating a vehicle crash on U.S. Route 40 near 142NE.

🌧️ Heavy rain is impacting the area. Wet roadways and reduced visibility can create hazardous driving conditions.

Please help keep everyone safe:

🚗 Reduce your speed and increase following distance.
💡 Turn on your headlights.
⚠️ Use extra caution when approaching the scene and follow directions from first responders.
📱 Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the roadway.

Please be patient, remain alert, and give them the space they need to do their jobs safely.

A few extra minutes on the road are worth it. Slow down, stay alert, and get home safely.

Thank you for helping us keep our community safe! 💙

10/14/2026

🔒 THEFT PREVENTION TIPS: PROTECT YOURSELF & YOUR PROPERTY! 🚔

Theft can happen anywhere, but taking a few simple precautions can help reduce your risk and keep your belongings safe. The West Jefferson Police Department encourages everyone to stay alert and take steps to prevent becoming a victim of theft.

✅ Lock It Up: Always lock your vehicle, home, garage, and sheds—even if you're only stepping away for a few minutes.

🚗 Keep Valuables Out of Sight: Never leave purses, wallets, cash, electronics, fi****ms, or other valuables visible inside your vehicle. If possible, take them with you.

🔑 Don't Leave Keys Behind: Never leave your vehicle running and unattended, and avoid leaving spare keys in obvious hiding places.

🏠 Secure Your Home: Keep doors and windows locked, use exterior lighting, and ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your property when you're away.

📦 Protect Your Deliveries: Bring packages inside as soon as possible, or arrange for a trusted neighbor to collect them.

💳 Protect Personal Information: Secure your wallet and financial documents, use strong passwords, and monitor bank accounts for suspicious activity.

👀 Stay Aware: Pay attention to your surroundings and report suspicious activity. Never put yourself in danger to investigate a situation.

📱 Document Your Property: Keep records of serial numbers, take photos of valuable items, and make sure bicycles and other property are properly secured.

🚨 Report Theft Promptly: If you become a victim of theft, report it to law enforcement. Do not confront a suspected thief yourself.

Remember: A few extra seconds spent securing your property can save you time, money, and frustration later!

Let's work together to keep West Jefferson safe. 💙

10/14/2026

🐾 K9 DIEGO, BACK IN THE GAME! 💙🖤

Today marked the first training day back in service for our K9 Unit after Diego’s bounce back from Hemangiosarcoma! We remain forever grateful to his doctors. 💪🐕 The team is back at work and preparing for their state evaluations in the coming weeks.

We want to extend a special thank you to Dean Harris and Sarah Carver at Midwest Working Dogs for the tremendous time, dedication, and expertise they continue to invest in our team.

•Trainer Dean Harris has devoted countless hours of his personal time to Diego, helping mature him into an exceptional working dog with impressive abilities in both domestic and police K9 work.

•Trainer Sarah Carver has also invested significant time in Diego, bringing a wealth of military K9 handling knowledge and extensive decoy experience to strengthen the team.

Great trainers build confidence, consistency, and reliability. Exceptional decoys challenge working dogs safely and realistically, preparing them for the unpredictable situations they may face in the field. That training directly benefits our officers, our agency, and the community.

Dean and Sarah are not only outstanding trainers but exceptional decoys who put in the long hours, often in heavy equipment and demanding conditions, to make this team better every week.

💙 We are incredibly proud of K9 Diego and Officer Salem and grateful for their strong comeback! To our trainers, you have our deepest gratitude and respect. Thank you for believing in this team and helping them get back to doing what they do best!

Once a team, always a team. Stronger together!

10/13/2026

10/10/2026

💚 World Mental Health Day | October 10 💚

Today, the West Jefferson Police Department recognizes World Mental Health Day and highlights the importance of mental health for our officers, first responders, and every member of our community.

In law enforcement, we often encounter people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. We see firsthand how stress, grief, trauma, financial struggles, family challenges, and other life circumstances can affect a person's mental well-being. We also recognize that the emotional toll of police work can affect our own officers, who spend their days responding to crises and helping others navigate difficult situations.

Behind every badge and every face in our community is a human being with their own struggles, challenges, and story. 💚

Mental health deserves the same attention and care as physical health. Whether you're an officer responding to a difficult call, a parent navigating life's challenges, a student struggling to fit in, or a neighbor going through a hard season, you deserve compassion, support, and the opportunity to ask for help without fear of judgment.

This World Mental Health Day, we encourage everyone to:
💚 Check in on your friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors.
💚 Lead with kindness. You never know what someone else may be going through.
💚 Break the stigma surrounding mental health and asking for help.
💚 Take care of yourself and recognize when you or someone you care about needs support.
💚 Remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

To our officers and first responders: You spend your days looking out for others. Remember to look out for yourselves and one another, too.

To our community: We see you, we care about you, and your well-being matters. Building a safer, stronger community means looking beyond the call for service and recognizing the importance of compassion, connection, and mental health support.

📞 If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

Let's continue to look out for one another, support one another, and remind each other that no one has to face life's challenges alone.

Take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Because mental health matters to all of us. 💚

10/08/2026

📚🐾 Storytime with Chief Smith! 🐾📚

A big thank you to the Hurt/Battelle Memorial Library for inviting Chief Smith to join the children for storytime today! We always appreciate opportunities to connect with the youngest members of our community, and sharing a good book makes it even better! ❤️

Chief Smith read The Never-Ever-Give-Up Pup by Lara Trump, a story about Seymour Clues, a determined puppy who learns to work through challenges, overcome failures, and never give up on achieving his goals. 🐶📖

What a great reminder for all of us that setbacks are part of the journey, and perseverance matters!

Thank you to the Hurt/Battelle Memorial Library for welcoming Chief Smith and for everything you do to encourage a love of reading and learning in our community! 📚❤️

10/08/2026

Three minutes. That's all the time it took for West Jefferson Officer Jeremy Ward to respond when nine-month-old Val started choking on baby puff snacks: https://www.10tv.com/article/life/heartwarming/west-jefferson-police-officer-choking-baby/530-55b95aef-6b5d-463f-9776-d9b02f316528?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_10TV_-_WBNS

10/07/2026

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Nathan and Holly Schroder are thankful for an officer’s quick response after he helped save their choking nine-month-old.