Conley serves Carey with care

CAREY — For the last year, Jeff Conley has served his hometown Carey community as chief of police with care. He was sworn into the position on Jan. 8, 2025, by the Carey Village Council during an emergency council meeting after previous Chief Ryan Doe stepped down in November 2024. Conley said he has maintained a focus on figuring out how to best serve the community. To him, it's not about how many arrests are made or how many traffic citations are written, it's about making the village of Carey a safe place to live. To do this, he wants his officers to be visible and involved in the community. At the beginning of 2025, he said part of the duties of the officers were to walk through two community spaces and speak with whoever they crossed paths with. Conley has also made an effort to have officers present at community events and provide police escort services for funerals or other processions of vehicles. "It's not always about having the (police vehicle) lights going," he said. "It's about being seen in the community in a way that's not reactive, but proactive … We're truly here to help." Conley started the Carey Connect initiative in December as a way to reinforce community wellness. Residents who choose to participate can receive a daily phone call from a dispatcher to "check-in." If the call goes unanswered, an officer is dispatched for a wellness check. Conley said he also has other ideas he hopes to put into practice. Conley was in law enforcement and public safety for 23 years, spending time with the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Carey Fire Department and the Upper Sandusky Fire Department. He said he was selling farm equipment when the Carey Police Chief position became available. "It's my hometown," he said. "... I kind of felt like I missed it." Since starting the position, he has worked hard to build the department into what it has become, especially challenged by staffing shortages, an issue that is not unique to the village. "I was down to three guys at one point," Conley said. "We were all working to cover road shifts." The village of Carey signed an agreement with the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office to help with calls when needed during the shortage. Conley said he is happy to report that as of printing, the Carey Police is almost fully staffed. "I feel like we're in a really good spot from where we were a year ago … I feel blessed to have found individuals that are a good fit for the village," he said, adding that he is looking for officers wanting something different. The Carey Police may not be able to compete with larger departments for resources but Conley hopes new officers will be excited about what the village can offer. Since his appointment to the position, Conley has worn many hats: from chief, patrol officer, and even handyman, recently taking on the job of giving the Carey Police Department a new coat of paint. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty and he's not above taking a night shift or working a weekend to ensure proper coverage of the village when needed. Culture comes from the top down, he said. "You gotta set that example," Conley said. "... You can't always just call the shots and not lead by example. It comes back to treating your people like people." When asked about his most significant accomplishment so far, he says he's not done yet but he's happy he's been able to stay committed to the community. He believes having integrity and staying transparent are great ways to build trust between a law enforcement agency and the community it serves. Looking to the next year, Conley said he'll continue to maintain community relationships and is looking to build on a commitment to officer wellness, but is mostly looking to do what he does best: making the village of Carey a safer place to live. After starting with the Carey Police as a dispatcher at just 21, now he's back to where he started. "I never thought I would have come back here as chief," he said. "It's an honor to serve my hometown. I've enjoyed it so far."