Parkersburg Police officer to patrol parks this summer
Parkersburg Police Patrolman 1st Class Jeremy Pinkerton poses for a photo on a bike at City Park. For the second consecutive year, Pinkerton will patrol City and Southwood parks over the summer before he returns to his role as the school resource officer at Hamilton Middle School. (Photo Provided)
Nightlynn Greathouse, 6, waits for Parkersburg Police Officer Jeremy Pinkerton to open some bubbles for her in August at City Park. (File Photo)
Parkersburg Police Patrolman 1st Class Jeremy Pinkerton poses for a photo on a bike at City Park. For the second consecutive year, Pinkerton will patrol City and Southwood parks over the summer before he returns to his role as the school resource officer at Hamilton Middle School. (Photo Provided)
Nightlynn Greathouse, 6, waits for Parkersburg Police Officer Jeremy Pinkerton to open some bubbles for her in August at City Park. (File Photo)
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PARKERSBURG -- While on summer break from his work as the school resource officer at Hamilton Middle School, Parkersburg Police Department Patrolman 1st Class Jeremy Pinkerton will once again be found in the city's parks.
"We assigned an officer to patrol primarily in Southwood and City parks in the summer of 2022, and it was productive and well received by the community and particularly the park patrons of all ages" Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board said in a press release.
Pinkerton handled the assignment last summer and said he enjoyed it.
"Getting to spend time with the members of the community in a relaxed, fun, atmosphere is a change of pace from what police officers typically get to do," he said in the release. "I feel that friendly conversations and interactions are vital to building a relationship with the community, especially with the kids."
This effort coincides with the Wood County Recreation Commission Summer Adventures program at City Park, which was reinstated last summer after a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pinkerton will again coordinate with Wood County Recreation personnel to provide programming assistance to better educate participants about topics including general safety, smart choices and citizenship.
"We are fortunate here in Parkersburg in that the community is largely supportive of law enforcement, and this is another way to educate the public and demonstrate that our role is one of a partner," Board said. "We are committed to building healthier relationships with everyone, especially the youth, and the parks are the perfect conduit for such activities and efforts."
People will see officers in marked and unmarked cars alike as well as some bike patrols when possible.
"There have been some issues with vandalism and destruction of property in both Southwood and City Park, and we are hopeful this will help to mitigate such actions as our parks have received significant investment of public funds the past several years and our residents and visitors deserve the best and safest recreational infrastructure possible," Mayor Tom Joyce said in the release.
"I applaud Chief Board and his command staff for their making this a priority and commitment in a time where there is significant park construction underway and officer staffing remains a priority which is being addressed daily to remain the top law enforcement agency in the Mid-Ohio Valley," Joyce said.