A longtime patrolman with the village police department and county prosecutor’s office investigator has been chosen as the new police chief for East Palestine.
With support from council, Village Manager Pete Monteleone appointed James Brown III as chief following interviews with at least four applicants earlier this month.
The appointment was announced during the Monday council meeting, which Brown attended alongside current Chief Kevin Dickey, who will retire on Sept. 23.
Brown will officially be sworn in to the position during the Sept. 25 council meeting.
According to his resume, Brown’s law enforcement career began in 1996 when he was hired to serve as a part-time patrolman for East Palestine. He was promoted to full-time patrolman in 1998 and served in that capacity until 2003.
By 2003, Brown went back to part-time patrolling due to being hired as an investigator with the criminal division of the county prosecutor’s office.
Brown has served as part-time patrolman and a county investigator the last 14 years. He said he will be leaving his investigator job to serve as chief.
“I want to thank County Prosecutor Robert Herron for the opportunities he has given me the last 14 years,” he said.
As a county investigator, Brown’s responsibilities included serving on the homicide task force and investigating and assisting other departments with investigations of major crimes.
During his 21 years as a patrolman with East Palestine, Brown has provided active shooter training to police, fire, EMS and the East Palestine School District teachers, administration and staff. He has also served as a firearms instructor.
He is a 1986 East Palestine High School graduate and served in the Ohio Army National Guard from 1996 to 1999, and the United States Air Force from 1986 to 1994, earning the title of staff sergeant during that time.
He was honorably discharged from both military positions and earned a good conduct medal for his service in the Air Force.
“I’m excited about the opportunity,” he said of becoming chief. “Thank you to the friends and family that supported me through my entire career. I can’t say enough about Chief Kevin Dickey. He has done an outstanding job.”
Brown also wished to thank Monteleone, Mayor Margo Zuch, and council for the promotion, and said he is looking forward to continuing the things Dickey has implemented during his time as chief.
Dickey said he and Brown came up together through the ranks within the department and that he “couldn’t be more pleased with the selection.”
“It was a difficult decision to retire, but I feel good now. I know the residents are going to be in good hands and the department is going to be in good hands,” Dickey said.
This story was originally reported by the Morning Journal