FREDERICKTOWN — Twenty-five years ago today, Jerry Day was appointed chief of the Fredericktown Police Department. He recalls having only one police car, which he and his two officers shared, when he first took over as chief in 1983. At the time, the police department occupied a back office in the city building on the square.
Today, sitting in the chief’s office at the police department building on South Main Street, Day describes how times and equipment may have changed, but the fundamental relationship he shares with the people he serves remains constant.
“I enjoy talking to people and helping people,” he said. “I enjoy solving problems.”
Day said that when he first began his work as a part-time officer on Feb. 3, 1979, he enjoyed working with Chief Louis Bill, whom Day credits with convincing him to begin his career in law enforcement.
“He and Mayor Cy Blackburn, and Sheriff Paul Rowe, I really owe them thanks for wanting me to come here,” said Day.
After leaving his job at a bus factory in Loudonville to join the department, Day worked for Chief Bill until 1981, when Jeff Cochran was appointed chief.
“Jeff was chief until Sept. 11, 1983,” Day explained. “Then I took over the job.”
Today, Day said, the department has equipment which allows it to serve and protect the community with the latest technology, and well-appointed vehicles. In-cruiser cameras, updated radio and computer technology, and new vehicles are now the norm.
Recalling his first days as chief, Day said village law enforcement faced financial challenges which made obtaining modern equipment difficult.
“It was hard times back then,” Day recalled. “Money was tight. We had one car, so if anything happened to it, we’d have to walk or use the old civil defense Jeep that the village had.”
Day said that when he became chief, Knox County Sheriff Paul Rowe told him if he ever needed to borrow a cruiser when the Fredericktown car was in the shop, Rowe would make sure one was available.
The chief said that in those early days, he relied on Rowe and Mount Vernon Police Chief Tom Bartlett for advice as well.
“If I had a problem and I didn’t know how to handle it, I had people I could call day or night, and that was Paul Rowe and Tom Bartlett,” he said.
Day recalls Bartlett, who passed away in 2006, fondly.
“Chief Bartlett and I were appointed chief the same year. We went to conferences and meetings together,” Day said. “Tom was always willing to help.”
Day said he has had many friends in the community who have supported him through his tenure as chief.
“Honestly and truly I wouldn’t have been able to stay here as long as I have if it wasn’t for the support of the mayors that I’ve worked for, and the councils,” he said.
Although big crime does not usually find its way to Fredericktown, Day said the post office robbery a few years ago, and a bank robbery in the early ’80s, stand out as memorable times at the police department.
Day grew up in a small town in West Virginia, which is where he said he originally became interested in law enforcement.
“The West Virginia State Police came and talked to us in high school,” he explained.
Jerry and Mary, his wife of 23 years, enjoy traveling to West Virginia to see family and friends on a regular basis. He said he would like to spend more time there when he retires, but has no plans to retire immediately, and no plans to ever leave Fredericktown.
After 25 years, he said, he can imagine retiring from the police department one day, but would like to keep working, possibly on a farm.
“I love that kind of work. I grew up on a farm, and I could see doing that after I retire from here,” he said.
Day said his career in Fredericktown has led him to lasting friendships with many of the people he serves.
“I just have to thank the people themselves here in town,” he said. “They are very important to me. I’ve gotten to know a lot of nice people.”
