DEPARTMENT OF POLICE

The Village Code Enforcement Division is an arm of the Village Police Department responsible for the enforcement of ordinances and regulations governing residential building and manufactured home permits; flood hazard mitigation; litter and illegal dumping; junk motor vehicles; and property maintenance. Click here to learn more about the Village Code Enforcement Division.

The Village of Rutland Police Department seeks Ohio certified peace officers to fulfill the department's mission of preventing and reducing crime through community policing, criminal investigation, drug interdiction and patrol services. Available positions are posted via the Village's Public Service and Employment System. Click the link provided to view available positions.

🔗 Public Service and Employment System

The Village of Rutland Department of Police works to preserve the peace and order in the Village of Rutland through the investigation and enforcement of criminal and traffic laws. To facilitate transparency and public awareness of criminal activity and disorder occuring in the Village, the Rutland Police Department now publishes a listing of calls for police service via the Public Safety Portal, which is interconnected with the Department's Public Safety Assist program, a computerized management system to track department activity. The Public Safety Portal allows the general public to track the types of calls for police service, the date and location of the call and the call's disposition.

View Department Statistics >

Interdicting the abuse and trafficking of illegal narcotics is imperative to preserving the health and safety of the community, abating and mitigating drug-related crimes such as breaking and entering and theft, and allows offenders to receive the proper recovery and rehabilitation to become productive members of society.

The officers of the Village of Rutland Police Department routinely practice drug interdiction by collaborating with local citizens, receiving tips, increasing patrols during peak times, and conducting traffic stops with probable cause on vehicles coming and going from a location suspected of drug abuse and trafficking.

To assist the community in remaining informed on how to spot and report a location or residence suspected of possible illegal drug activity, we have provided the following information.

Spot Drug Activity in Your Neighborhood

Is there a "drug house" in your neighborhood block? If you notice any of the following common signs, the location or residence warrants attention from the Rutland Police Department: 

• Excessive foot traffic to and from a house or property

• Loitering in or around a house

• Frequent and unusual traffic patterns such as: stop – enter – leave

• Traffic frequently stops and a resident comes out and talks briefly with occupants of car

• Threats or intimidation connected to a residence

• Open exchange of drugs and money

• Gang activity in the neighborhood

• Graffiti on structures in the area

• Sudden increase in criminal activity

Contact Rutland Police and Report Suspected "Drug Houses"

If you notice any of the above common signs at a location or residence in your neighborhood, contact the Rutland Police Department and report the following:

• Dates and times of activity

• Style, make, color and license plates of vehicles that visit the residence

• Note whether or not the person or vehicle is a repeat visitor

• Describe persons as thoroughly as possible – age, race, height, weight, etc.

• Describe the activity you are seeing

• Weapons being displayed

All tips may remain anonymous.

If have knowledge of abuse or trafficking in drugs, or suspect abuse or trafficking in drugs, you are urged to contact the Police Department by telephone at (740) 742 2121. Provide a voicemail message if prompted and an officer will return your call as soon as possible. If you have been affected by a crime involving the abuse or trafficking in drugs, you are urged to visit the Police Department and file a police report. Criminal investigations involving drug abuse and trafficking will begin upon receiving a tip or upon the filing of a police report.

For all emergencies requiring the immediate presence of police, dial 911.

The Village of Rutland Police Department practices community policing to ensure a close partnership with the community and its agency to preserve peace and reduce crime. The Department's community policing model includes approaches and measures that facilitates accountability, transparency and an everlasting partnership with citizens and businesses to promote the health, safety and welfare of the Village.

Among many others, the officers of the Police Department are committed to:

• Encouraging adult citizens, children and businesses to help prevent crime by providing advice, providing an open-door visitor approach, visiting area schools, and encouraging neighborhood watch groups, along with a variety of other techniques.

• Conducting both foot and vehicle patrol and engage with neighborhood residents to provide an outlet to discuss crime tips, report concerns, discuss issues.

• Increasing accountability to the citizens served by the officers.

• Communication and transparency on police objectives, strategies and statistics.

• Partnership with businesses, community organizations and the local media.

In addition to routine community policing, criminal investigation, drug interdiction and traffic patrol and enforcement services, the Village of Rutland Police Department provides a number of programs to the community. The Police Department serves the community on a part-time basis.

Citizen's Well-being Program

Do you, a family member or friend live at home alone or experiencing physical disability or medical ailments? If so, consider enrolling in the Citizen's Well-being Program. While on duty, an officer will stop at your home, or the home of your family member or friend registered with the program, to check on your or their well-being. If you're interested in this program, please visit the Police Department or stop and talk to an officer on duty. You may also call the Village Hall at (740) 742 2121 and request to speak with Chief Freed.

Civilian Ride Along Program

Are you interested in experiencing an officer's typical day on duty? The Police Department provides the Civilian Ride Along Program to allow civilians and those considering a career in law enforcement to ride along with an officer in a marked cruiser for the entirety of their shift or a part thereof. If you're interested in this program, please visit the Police Department or stop and talk to Chief Freed. You may also call the Village Hall at (740) 742 2121 and request to speak with Chief Freed.

Project ChildSafe Program

The Police Department currently partners with the National Shooting Sports Foundation to promote firearms safety and education. The Police Department works with NSSF through the distribution of safety education messages and free firearm safety kits to families here in our community. If you're interested in obtaining a firearm safety kit, please visit the Police Department or stop and talk to an officer on duty. You may also call the Village Hall at (740) 742 2121 and request to speak with Chief Freed.

Safe and Secure Business Program

As part of patrolling, officers with the Police Department will generally check businesses to ensure doors and windows are locked and secure. If an officer finds that a business door or window is open or unlocked, the officer will enter the building to examine for foul activity and will radio dispatch to contact the key holder.

If you desire your business to be checked each day and/or night that an officer is on patrol, consider enrolling in the Safe and Secure Business Program. During each shift, an officer will stop at your business and conduct a business check, complete a business check verification slip and leave it at your business to confirm that your business has been checked per your request. If you're interested in this program, please visit the Police Department or stop and talk to an officer on duty. You may also call the Village Hall at (740) 742 2121 and request to speak with Chief Freed.

Safe and Secure Residence Program

Are you planning on leaving town for an extended period of time? If so, consider checking with the Police Department about having your home checked by an officer while on duty to ensure your doors and windows remain locked and free of breaches or foul play. While on duty, an officer will stop at your home and conduct a house check and contact you if foul play is discovered. If you're interested in this program, please visit the Police Department or stop and talk to an officer on duty. You may also call the Village Hall at (740) 742 2121 and request to speak with Chief Freed.

For all emergencies requiring the immediate presence of police, dial 911.

The Village of Rutland Police Department, within its jurisdiction, enforces all criminal and traffic laws and is committed to cooperating and partnering with the Meigs County Sheriff's Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Bureau of Investigation and Identification to investigate crimes occurring in the Village of Rutland.

The Police Department relies heavily on the partnership and support from MCSO, OSHP and BCI&I along with feedback from the community to help solve crimes and render justice to its victims.

If you have been affected by a crime, you are urged to contact the Police Department by telephone at (740) 742 2121. Provide a voicemail message if prompted and an officer will return your call as soon as possible. You are also urged to visit the Police Department and file a police report. Criminal investigations will begin upon receiving a tip or upon the filing of a police report.

For all emergencies requiring the immediate presence of police, dial 911.

The Rutland Police Department operates and serves the community through guidance from the Manual of Departmental Policy and Procedure (the Manual). The Manual is comprised of nine chapters:

• Law Enforcement Role and Authority

• Organization and Administration

• General Operations

• Patrol Operations

• Traffic Operations

• Investigation Operations

• Equipment

• Support Services

• Personnel

The Manual can be accessed and viewed via a public record request. Because the Manual is substantial in length, copies of the entire Manual are not produced by the Village of Rutland. Instead, copies of specific chapters or sections may be requested which are helpful to complete a requester's purpose for requesting the Manual. To request a printed copy of a specific chapter or section of the Manual, please click here. To print the Manual independently, click the link provided.

Note: Due to the Manual's size, it may require additional load time.

Chief Zachary Cross, B.S., Village Marshal

As Village Marshal, Chief Cross oversees police service in the Village of Rutland, and is responsible for the preservation of law and order for 427 residents, 14 businesses and 8 community organizations.