News
New Deputy Named To Sheriff’s Office Position
By: Tyler Buchanan | The Athens Messenger
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The Athens County Sheriff’s Office added a new deputy over the weekend, the second this month, as Sheriff Patrick Kelly said he again opted for someone experienced with law enforcement and the Athens area.
Jon Arnold, 30, is in his first week with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office after working four years in law enforcement in Nelsonville. He worked full time with the Hocking College Police Department and part time with the Nelsonville City Police Department.
While serving in Nelsonville and working for the college, Arnold graduated in 2012 from Hocking College with an associate degree in Police Science, which he said gave him a chance to gain real experience and “hands-on learning.”
Arnold is an Athens County native, having graduated from Nelsonville-York High School before serving in the Air Force as a firefighter. He pursued law enforcement to be able to help people and to follow in the footsteps of his father, also a former Nelsonville police officer.
Arnold said he was happy to work for the Athens County area and be in the place he grew up.
“I’m happy to be a part of a professional organization that serves Athens County citizens,” Arnold said. “I’m an Athens County man.”
Kelly said he was familiar with Arnold’s work in Nelsonville and was confident the new deputy could transition into a larger work area. Moving from a village to a total county jurisdiction could be difficult, Kelly said, but Arnold’s experience made him fit for the position.
“We were looking for the best possible person…there was no doubt in my mind I wanted him for this office,” Kelly said.
As another recently-named Deputy Alan Sullivan finishes his field training and Arnold begins working with his own training officer, Kelly said he is ready for them both to serve in the field and get started with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
“I have a lot of confidence in them,” he said. “I know they can do the job.”