Jara tapped as new Parkersburg police chief

PARKERSBURG- After 3 ½ months without a police chief, the Parkersburg city council officially named David Jara to the position during a special meeting at city hall on Monday evening.

The council went into closed session to speak with Jara, who first interviewed for the job approximately three months ago, and came out moments later to approve the appointment and swear him into the new position.

Jara hails from New Jersey: he has 15 years of experience in law enforcement and most recently served as the chief in Chester Borough, a community of about 1,700 residents which has since merged with the Chester Township police department. He cited the aforementioned merger, the small town setting and the lower cost of living in the Midwest as major selling points for himself, his wife and their two children.

“It was perfect timing for me to leave and start looking elsewhere, especially out of state. So we ended up here,” he said.

Jara will succeed Scott Schrage, who left his position last fall to pursue another opportunity in the area, and his starting salary will be $52,012 after completing his certification training in Iowa. With his previous experience in a small town, he plans to bring many of his community policing initiatives with him to Iowa and establish himself in Parkersburg right away.

“You want the people you serve to know you by your face,” he said. “That’s how I’d like to keep it here.”

He added that he is a proponent of police body cameras and proper training for officers. Parkersburg will now have two full-time officers and a host of part time help. Jara begins his duties on February 1.