Retired Ohio Highway Patrol Officer Larry Anderson Named West Union Police Chief

The Village of West Union appointed Larry Anderson as its new chief of police on Jan. 16, 2026, a move village officials say is intended to steady a department that has seen recent leadership turnover. Anderson is a retired Ohio State Highway Patrol officer who has previously served as a police chief, and local leaders cited his law enforcement experience as the primary reason for the hire.

West Union's administration framed the appointment as a response to operational challenges that followed successive changes at the top of the department. Those challenges have prompted concern among residents about consistency in patrol coverage, departmental administration, and the ability to maintain routine community policing functions. The village expects Anderson's background to help professionalize department operations and reduce short-term instability.

Anderson's arrival carries implications for budgeting, interagency cooperation, and service delivery in Adams County. A chief with trooper experience typically brings familiarity with countywide mutual aid agreements, state reporting requirements, and standardized training protocols, all of which can affect how the village allocates limited resources. Village Council decisions on staffing levels, overtime budgets, and equipment purchases will take place with a new leader in place, and those policy choices will shape the department's capacity over the coming months.

Institutional continuity at the top of a small municipal department matters for everyday governance. Consistent leadership supports record-keeping, accreditation efforts where applicable, and long-term planning for crime prevention and traffic enforcement on state and local roads. For civic engagement, an appointed chief offers a focal point for residents seeking answers about public safety priorities; how the village solicits community input and reports performance metrics will be indicators of accountability going forward.

The appointment also intersects with local political dynamics. Public safety is a recurring concern in village council meetings and municipal elections, and the chief's performance can influence voter sentiment and council oversight in future cycles. Residents and council members alike will be watching for measurable changes in patrol responsiveness, transparency about operations, and whether staffing stabilizes under Anderson's leadership.

What comes next is an implementation phase in which the village must translate the administration's rationale into measurable outcomes. Adams County residents can expect Village Council to address any necessary budget or policy adjustments, and community members who want to follow developments should monitor council agendas and public safety reports for updates on staffing, patrol schedules, and departmental initiatives.