LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION … Local homeschooling students had the chance to see how on-scene fingerprinting works with West Unity Police Chief J.R. Jones.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The West Unity Library hosted a Law Enforcement Appreciation Day at 10:00 a.m., January 9, 2026. They welcomed local homeschool students for an educational and interactive morning. The event grew strong participation, with twenty kids and two teens in attendance.
As part of the program, the Chief of Police J.R. Jones visited the library to speak with the students and answer questions about what it means to be a police officer.
He discussed roles and responsibilities of law enforcement and encouraged questions about the different aspects of his line of work.
“Everyone has bad days, and we understand that. Nobody is perfect, right?” Chief Jones explained to the class.
“There are tough situations, and where people can’t control the situation, that’s when we get involved to control it. Our number one goal is just to make peace.
“We chase dogs running loose, we help people that have fallen, and a lot of our job is patrolling around town,” he continued.
Children asked a wide range of questions, most with a special interest on how tasers worked. “We do investigate crimes,” said the Chief. “But do you know how most of our crimes are solved? A community takes care of itself.”
He goes on to describe how the community is often their number one resource for information. “The people in communities are really the ones who solve the cases.
“I would say that goes true for over 90% of our cases. What I want to be really good at is community-policing; that’s working with the people in our town.”
The chief demonstrated fingerprinting techniques by leading a hands-on activity, during which each child had their fingerprints taken using fingerprint powder.
Following the activity, students and attendees shared donuts. Before leaving, Chief Jones handed out small police badge-shaped pencil toppers to the children as a keepsake from the event.