Worthington Division of Police

Support Service Bureau

Criminal Investigative Unit

The Worthington Division of Police Criminal Investigative Unit (CIU) is responsible for the investigation of all incidents that require extended investigations beyond the initial report. The CIU is made up of five detectives and a secretary. The unit is supervised by Sergeant John Slaughter. All detectives are trained in general investigation skills and each has received specialized training to give them certain skills for specific types of investigations.  Our detectives specialize in fraud & forgery, crimes against persons and property crimes. One detective specializes in “counter-crime” which focuses on narcotics, intelligence gathering and “pro-active” policing.

Detectives work closely with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and also belong to numerous multi-agency task forces. One detective is assigned full-time to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force while other detectives are assigned to the Delaware County Drug Task Force and the Ohio Organized Crime Counter-fit Check Task Force. These task force relationships are invaluable because of the resources they provide to our agency and the knowledge our personnel gain through their involvement.

Donald A. James

Communication Center

The Communication Center is the hub of operations for Public Safety within the Worthington metro area. On a yearly average, our communication technicians dispatch over 36,000 calls for service, answer over 52,000 incoming telephone calls and handle over 4,000 emergency 9-1-1 calls.

The Communication Center answers 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls from the residents of the City of Worthington, the Village of Riverlea, Perry Township and Sharon Township. Emergency communication personnel dispatch police, fire, emergency medical services, and service department personnel for all four communities.

The Public Safety Communications Center is located within the Division of Police headquarters and is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are 10 full-time and three part-time communication technicians that provide the staffing for the Communications Center. The Center is supervised by Sergeant Jerry Strait.

The Communication Center is named in honor and in the memory of long-time Police Dispatcher Donald A. James. Don was a dedicated, positive individual who served the citizens of Worthington for 23 years. Don was a disabled World War 2 veteran who suffered paralysis after contracting polio during his service with the United States Navy. The paralysis confined Don to a wheel chair for the remainder of his life and he also suffered other medical complications as a result of his polio. These conditions rarely stopped Don from his service to the community. Don was a dedicated individual who normally worked six days a week, fighting through his personal disabilities, to serve the citizens of Worthington. In his honor, a plaque hangs proudly outside our Communication Center reminding all of Don’s legacy of commitment and enduring spirit of service.

   To Report a Crime or to Request Police / Fire Services

Dial 9-1-1 for all Emergencies