East Palestine Police Chief Jim Brown (right) shakes hands with then-chief Kevin Dickey before being sworn in 2017. Brown recently announced his retirement and will pass the torch to Patrolman Chris Weingart, a 20-plus-year veteran of the department. (File photo)

EAST PALESTINE — After 25 years of dedicated service to the East Palestine Police Department, Police Chief Jim Brown has announced his retirement, effective Dec. 6, 2025. Brown, who has served as chief for the past eight years, will pass the torch to Patrolman Chris Weingart, a 20-plus-year veteran of the department.

Village Manager Antonio Diaz-Guy praised Brown’s leadership, noting his contributions to strengthening community partnerships, modernizing training protocols, and maintaining a proactive presence that restored public confidence in safety.

“Chief Brown has been more than a leader. He has been a steady hand and a trusted voice for our village,” Diaz-Guy said. “This retirement is the culmination of a long-held personal plan, and we are grateful he chose to spend the entirety of his distinguished career here.”

According to a village press release, under Brown’s command, the department strengthened community partnerships and maintained a visible, proactive presence that helped restore confidence in public safety.

“His departure reflects thoughtful planning, and confirmation that the department will be left in the capable hands of his team,” the village said.

Brown’s career began in 1996 as a part-time patrolman for East Palestine before being promoted to full-time in 1998. In 2003, he transitioned to part-time patrol work while serving as an investigator with the county prosecutor’s office, where he worked on the homicide task force and assisted with major crime investigations. Brown also provided active shooter training for police, fire, EMS, and school staff, and served as a firearms instructor.

A 1986 graduate of East Palestine High School, Brown served in the Ohio Army National Guard from 1996 to 1999 and the U.S. Air Force from 1986 to 1994, earning the rank of staff sergeant and a good conduct medal before being honorably discharged.

“We thank Jim for all his years of service and we can’t wait for Chris Weingart to take the reins and keep the police department moving in the right direction,” East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway said.

Weingart, who has held various roles within the department including patrol officer, sergeant and second-in-command, is set to take over as chief. Lauded for his operational expertise, collaborative leadership style, and deep understanding of the community, the village and Brown expressed confidence that Weingart is well-positioned to continue the department’s mission of “serving with honor, transparency and excellence.”

“Chris excels in administration and has a deep understanding of the officers and the community,” Brown said. “He has my full confidence, and I know he will lead with the same dedication that has defined our team.”

A swearing-in ceremony for Weingart is scheduled for Dec. 6.