Former Marion County trooper named Ohio Highway Patrol superintendent

As a child growing up in the Fairpark neighborhood of Marion, Charles "Chuck" Jones dreamed of one day becoming an Ohio Highway Patrol trooper. After realizing that dream, Jones went on to achieve greater success, moving up through the ranks at the state law enforcement agency to become a lieutenant colonel and later second in command as assistant superintendent.

"My story goes back to about the age of four, really," explained Jones, a 1991 graduate of Marion Harding High School who was the senior class president. "I grew up in the Fairpark area, on the north end, and there was a Highway Patrol trooper that lived just a few streets over. And I remember one day going by the house and seeing that highway patrol cruiser in the driveway. That really was it for me. I think that kind of planted the seed that that was what I wanted to do and as I got older I knew I wanted to be in law enforcement and be a state trooper."

This past week, Jones experienced a reality beyond that of his wildest boyhood dreams when he was appointed to serve as the 20th superintendent in the history of the Ohio Highway Patrol. Jones will assume command of OHP effective Aug. 12. He replaces Col. Richard S. Fambro, who is retiring after nearly 32 years of distinguished service.

"Number one, it's a blessing, and I give all the glory to God," Jones said in regard to his appointment as superintendent. "Twenty-eight and a half years is a long time and I've had the fortunate ability to have a lot of different assignments as I moved up through the ranks. But being named as the 20th superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol - short of the marriage to my wife and the birth of my children - is truly just a great career accomplishment.

"There's a lot responsibility obviously that comes along with it and I understand that, but it's an opportunity that only 19 others before me have had the opportunity to do in the almost 89-year history of the Highway Patrol. It is definitely the highlight of my career and I'm looking forward to it."

Gov. Mike DeWine expressed his confidence in Jones' ability to lead the agency during the announcement about the appointment on Wednesday in Columbus.

"The appointment of Lt. Col. Jones to superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol will further enhance the agency's exemplary public safety services for the citizens of Ohio," DeWine said. "I am confident he has the experience and vision to ensure that Ohio's roads and communities remain safe for all Ohio families. He has served with the patrol for 28-plus years and shares my priorities of continued focus on preventing distracted driving and enhancing law enforcement recruitment and training."

After working as a dispatcher and a jailer for the Marion County Sheriff's Office early in his career, Jones was accepted into the Highway Patrol Training Academy, graduating in 1994. His first assignment was back in his hometown at the Marion Post. He served in Marion until 1999 when he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and was assigned to the Delaware Post as assistant commander. He also worked at the state training academy.

In 2004, Jones was promoted to lieutenant and continued to serve at the academy. As a lieutenant, he also served in the Office of Personnel, Columbus District Criminal Patrol Unit, and the Marion Post. In 2013, he was promoted to the rank of staff lieutenant and remained at the training academy. He also served at the Bucyrus District Headquarters.

In 2018, he was promoted to the rank of captain and transferred back to the academy. In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of major and served as commander in the Office of Training, Recruitment and Diversity. In 2021, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and became the agency's assistant superintendent.

The inspiration to become a state trooper was ignited at an early age in his hometown of Marion, Jones said.

Jones joined the Marion County Sheriff's Office Explorer program at the age of 14 and was part of that organization for four years. He said former Sheriff John Butterworth, who was Marion County's longest-serving sheriff, served as a mentor and helped to fan the flames of his desire to pursue a career in law enforcement.

"One day, Sheriff Butterworth said, 'Hey, how would you like to be a dispatcher?'" Jones shared as he reflected on a pivotal event from his youth. "Now mind you, I was a senior in high school, 18, 19 years old when Sheriff Butterworth posed that question to me. ... I told the sheriff, 'Sure. I'd love to be hired and try it out.' So I went to school all day and then I worked at the sheriff's office as a dispatcher on the afternoon shift from 4 (p.m.) to midnight. I did that for five or six months until I graduated from high school."

Jones said Butterworth's gesture instilled confidence in him and served as another point of inspiration to go full-speed after his dream.

"It was quite the honor for me for Sheriff Butterworth to have that much faith in me. Mind you, he'd been watching me, I believe, for the past four years prior to that and maybe saw some things that he thought were good and promising," Jones said. "But it meant the world to me. I grew up without a father, single-parent household. To this day, I tell people that John Butterworth really served as that father figure for me at a young age. Taking that chance on me as a senior in high school, it just meant the world to me. He treated me like one of his sons and gave me my start in law enforcement."

Jones' longtime friends and colleagues in the Marion County law enforcement community expressed their respect and admiration for his accomplishments, heaping praise on him for being appointed superintendent of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

"I have known Chuck since the beginning of his career when he worked for the Marion County Sheriff's Office back in the early 90s," Marion County Sheriff Matt Bayles said. "His rise through the ranks of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is no surprise as I have seen the hard work, dedication, and integrity he has shown throughout his career there. He is a man that younger law enforcement officers, be they troopers, police officers, or deputies can look up to as a role model of how things should be done. Marion should be very proud of him. I know I am proud to call him a friend."

Marion Police Chief Jay McDonald said he knew from their early days working in local law enforcement that Jones would reach the pinnacle of law enforcement leadership in Ohio one day.

"Chuck Jones and I started our careers at the same time and I have watched Chuck advance through the ranks of the State Patrol," McDonald said. "I have always known he was going to be the superintendent. He cares about his troops and he cares about the community. He is a great leader with tremendous integrity. He will continue to make us from Marion proud as he begins this next chapter of service in his life. I am so happy for Lt. Col. Jones and his family."

Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan said Jones is a shining example of leadership and citizenship.

"Chuck Jones represents everything good about Marion. He is a true leader, and the people of Ohio will be well served by him. We could not prouder of him or more happy for him," Grogan said.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion's Charles Jones new Ohio Highway Patrol superintendent.