West Jefferson Police Department

06/06/2026

🚴‍♂️ Our Bike Patrol Unit has been out and about this week connecting with the community!

Ofc. Soward was able to patrol throughout our neighborhoods, allowing for close interaction with residents, families, and especially our youth.

We’re thankful for the great interactions with both parents and children during these patrols and look forward to continuing to develop new educational outreach programs within our community.

We also encourage parents to partner with us by helping ensure bikes and scooters are operated safely and legally in accordance with law. Working together will help keep everyone safe while enjoying their time outdoors.

Thank you to everyone who stopped to talk with Ofc. Soward this week, we appreciate your continued support and partnership!

06/05/2026

🌱🚔 Introducing the West Jefferson Police Department's First-Ever Safety Sprouts Camp! 🚔🌱

We're excited to launch our very first Safety Sprouts Camp for our youngest community members!

📅 August 10–14, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Daily
👧👦 Ages 4–5 Years Old
👥 Limited to 25 participants

Safety Sprouts Camp is designed to help children learn important safety skills through fun, age-appropriate activities, games, demonstrations, and interactions with our officers.

This is a unique opportunity for your little one to build confidence, make new friends, and learn how police officers help keep our community safe.

⚠️ Only 25 spots are available, so registration will fill quickly!



Register HERE: https://secure.rec1.com/OH/west-jefferson-oh/catalog.

06/04/2026

The West Jefferson Police Department honors and remembers retired Lt. Det. Rodney Chenos, whose unwavering dedication to law enforcement and public service spanned more than four decades.

Rodney began his service with the West Jefferson Police Department as an Auxiliary Police Officer in 1974 before becoming a Police Officer, serving the community from 1974 until his retirement in 2011. Throughout his distinguished career, he held a variety of positions which reflected his professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence. He served as a Police Corporal in 1979, Dog Warden from 1979 to 1980, Detective Sergeant in 1984, and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1990.

As a fi****ms instructor beginning in 1983, Rodney played an important role in training and mentoring fellow officers, helping ensure the highest standards of preparedness and professionalism within the department.

During his career, Rodney was involved in numerous significant investigations which helped protect the citizens of West Jefferson. His investigative work included the Parsons burglary investigation in 1985, the West Jefferson Middle School burglary investigation in 1986, and a homicide investigation in 1986. His dedication and skill earned him commendations, including recognition for his work in the apprehension of an attempted r**e suspect in 1983. Ret. Lt. Det. Chenos recently assisted current detectives in a 2004 cold case with a 2025 conviction.

Beyond his service to the Village of West Jefferson, Rodney also served as a Special Deputy with the Madison County Sheriff's Office from 1987 to 2017, continuing his commitment to public safety and the citizens of Madison County for many years.

Lt. Det. Chenos exemplified the values of integrity, professionalism, and service. He dedicated his life to protecting others, mentoring fellow officers, and serving his community with honor. His legacy will live on through the many lives he touched, the officers he trained, and the lasting impact he made on the profession he loved.

The members of the West Jefferson Police Department extend our heartfelt condolences to Rodney's family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him.

Rest in peace, Lieutenant. Thank you for your decades of faithful service. Your dedication, leadership, and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

💙🖤 End of Watch but never end of memory. 💙🖤

06/03/2026

🐾 K9 Diego continues sharpening his incredible scent detection skills through ongoing training and dedication!

Yesterday, the team demonstrated how police dogs use the “scent cone” to locate hidden narcotics by following odor particles carried through the air.

As Diego moves closer to the source, the odor becomes stronger, allowing him to narrow the search and pinpoint the hidden location with precision. 🐕💪

Diego also wears special deployment boots that protect his paws from rough terrain and hot surfaces while helping protect paint, flooring, and other sensitive surfaces during searches. 🥾🐾

We are extremely proud of K9 Diego, Ofc. Salem, and the trainers who continue striving for excellence from the team! 🇺🇸

06/03/2026

Robert Clevenger III pled guilty in federal court today. Special thank you to the US Marshals Office for working with our agency and carrying the case through on a federal level.

Community Safety Update

On January 2, 2026, officers received a tip regarding a Michigan s*x offender, Robert Eugene Clevenger III, believed to be living in West Jefferson. Officers responded quickly, located and secured the individual, confirmed charges of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Second Degree (victim under 13) and failure to register.

Clevenger was jailed and is awaiting court proceedings in Madison County. We thank the public for the critical tip, commend our second-shift officers for their professionalism, and extend appreciation to the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office for prioritizing public safety. Together, this partnership helps keep West Jefferson safe. 💙🚓

06/02/2026

🚧 ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE 🚧

Please be advised that the following streets will have pavement work beginning tomorrow morning (6-3-26) and are expected to remain closed through next Wednesday:

• N. Heath Street
• N. Chester Street
• N. Center Street
• S. Center Street

⚠️ No street parking will be permitted on these roadways while pavement work is underway. Vehicles must be removed from the affected areas to allow crews to complete the project safely and efficiently.

Motorists are encouraged to plan alternate routes and allow extra travel time while work is being completed.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as these improvements are made to our roadways. Please use caution around construction areas and follow all posted detour signs.

Thank you for helping keep our community safe.

06/02/2026

Drowning is the leading cause of death in children in the United States. The American Red Cross is offering a 🚨 FREE Water Safety Program for Kids! 🚨

The West Jefferson Police Department is excited to share the American Red Cross WHALE Tales program, a fun and interactive water safety education program designed for children.

WHALE Tales teaches important skills to help kids stay safe in and around water through engaging activities, games, and lessons. Whether at the pool, lake, or backyard water play area, understanding water safety can help prevent accidents and save lives.

As summer approaches, now is the perfect time to help children learn how to make safe choices around water.

To learn more about the American Red Cross WHALE Tales program, check out their online resources here: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/teach-water-safety/whale-tales

You don't need any certificates or experience to teach this class.

Together, we can help keep our community safe this summer! ☀️💦

05/30/2026

Assist in Locating Suspected Kidnapping Vehicle

On May 30, 2026, at approximately 12:09 a.m., our officers were dispatched to assist the Columbus Division of Police in locating a vehicle believed to be involved in a reported kidnapping incident within their jurisdiction.

Officers were provided with a vehicle description and an expected direction of travel toward West Jefferson. Shortly thereafter, Officer Youngblood located the suspect vehicle traveling westbound on W. Main St. near Taylor Blair Road.

Officer Youngblood, with the assistance of Officer Brison, conducted a felony traffic stop at W. Main St. and Eastgate Avenue. Multiple Columbus Police units responded to the scene and assisted. All occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody without incident, and Columbus Police are investigating.

This serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of strong mutual aid partnerships between law enforcement agencies. The ability to quickly share information, coordinate resources, and work together across jurisdictional boundaries allows agencies to respond effectively to critical incidents and enhances public safety throughout our region.

We are grateful for the efforts of dispatchers, all responding officers, and thankful that the situation concluded safely. We remain committed to supporting our law enforcement partners and protecting the communities we serve.

05/29/2026

🚔☀️ The “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” are here.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, teen traffic fatalities historically increase nationwide as more young drivers hit the road during summer break. Speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and not wearing seatbelts all contribute to these tragic crashes.

The West Jefferson Police Department is asking everyone — especially our young drivers — to make safe choices this summer:

✅ Buckle up every trip
📵 Put the phone away while driving
🚫 Never drive impaired
🐢 Slow down and follow speed limits
👥 Speak up if a friend is driving recklessly

Parents: Please take time to talk with your teens about safe driving habits before handing over the keys.

Together, we can help make this summer safe for everyone on our roads.

05/27/2026

🌧️ FLOOD SAFETY REMINDER 🌧️

With heavy rain in the forecast, the West Jefferson Police Department wants to remind everyone:

🚧 TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN 🚧

We are already experiencing heavy flooding in Madison County and surrounding areas.

Just 6 inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet, and 12 inches can carry away a vehicle. Never drive through flooded roadways — you may not know how deep the water is or if the road underneath has been damaged.

✅ Stay alert for road closure signs
✅ Avoid flooded areas and low-lying roads
✅ Slow down during heavy rain
✅ Give yourself extra travel time
✅ Report hazardous conditions if safe to do so

Your safety is our priority. Please use caution and help keep our community safe during severe weather.