ST. PARIS – An open house was held on Friday, July 8, for retired village police chief James R. Pence II. Pence worked as a law enforcement officer in the village for more than 35 years. He began as a CERT Program officer in 1980, was hired as a regular officer within a year and promoted to sergeant, then to chief within the next six years.
Pence coached many years for several local youth baseball, basketball, softball and football teams.
Dignitaries attending the event included Joe Braden, representative of Auditor of State Dave Yost, who issued a proclamation of appreciation to Pence; U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) with a personal letter of congratulations; state Rep. Nino Vitale (R-Urbana), offering a certificate of congratulations; and representatives of Secretary of State John Husted; and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, who issued a proclamation of congratulations. Other Ohio officials, including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, sent letters of congratulations and proclamations of gratitude for Pence’s more than 35 years of service to the community.
Those helping with the planning of the event included Joe Braden, who helped get the word out; Diana Wallen, village Superintendent of Streets, Parks and Land; Jim Copes, village of St. Paris; temporary Fiscal Officer Richard Ford; Councilman Lynn Miller and Mona Miller; and local residents, Helen Persinger, Darlene Booher and Denise Brecount.
