Police Department

For non-emergency assistance and question, please call us at 740-633-2121.

Vincent West

Chief of Police
City of Martins Ferry

Office: 740-633-2121
Fax: 740-633-0634
Email: vwest@martinsferryoh.gov

Let me introduce myself and share a little about who I am, along with my thoughts and vision for the Martins Ferry Police Department.

My name is Vincent West, and I have lived in Martins Ferry my entire life. I have also been connected to the Martins Ferry Police Department for as long as I can remember. I live here with my wife, Katherine, and our two children, who are the highlights of our lives and my greatest motivation.

My father, Vincent West—known to many in the city as “Ben”—became a Martins Ferry police officer three months before I was born. He retired from the department after 25 years of dedicated service. Growing up around the department and witnessing his commitment to this community had a lasting impact on me and shaped my desire to serve.

I graduated from the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in 2005 while working full-time at United Dairy in Martins Ferry. I served as a part-time officer with the Martins Ferry Police Department for seven years before joining the full-time force in 2012. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working alongside many outstanding officers, each of whom contributed to the officer—and leader—I have become today.

Early in my full-time service, I joined the Belmont County Drug Task Force with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office. During that time, I attended numerous specialized narcotics training courses and became a certified Clandestine Lab Operator. This certification, issued through the DEA, allowed me to safely dismantle methamphetamine laboratories, neutralize hazardous materials, collect evidence, and transport materials to approved disposal sites throughout the state of Ohio. This experience gave me the honor of working with exceptional law enforcement officers across Belmont County.

In 2023, I was promoted to Sergeant under Chief Jerry Murphy. Serving in a supervisory role broadened my understanding of leadership and reinforced the responsibility that comes with guiding others. It reminded me that leadership is a constant learning process—one that I continue every day. In October of 2025, I was honored to be appointed Chief of Police for the Martins Ferry Police Department.

My motivation and vision for our department are deeply influenced by the many Chiefs of Police I have known throughout my life, from Lloyd “Uncle Bud” Shroads to Chief Jerry Murphy. Their guidance, experience, and dedication helped shape my goals for this department. I believe in learning from both past and present leadership, using those lessons to address today’s challenges while continuing to move our department forward.

I am not perfect, and I recognize that mistakes will happen. What I can promise is that I will always strive to do what is best for Martins Ferry and work tirelessly to make our community as safe as possible. We are fortunate to have some of the finest officers, each bringing their own experience and approach to the calls they handle. I understand that not everyone will always agree with how situations are handled, and I welcome those conversations. My door is always open. You may not always agree with my answers, but you will receive honesty and transparency.

One principle I consistently share with our officers is simple: treat people the way you want to be treated. Respect goes both ways. If we approach situations with professionalism and fairness, we are more likely to achieve positive outcomes. At the same time, our officers deserve respect as well, and they will respond accordingly.

Our department faces daily challenges that truly make law enforcement one of the toughest jobs in the world. The situations our officers encounter would surprise many who believe they understand everything that happens behind the scenes. Social media has added another challenge, often spreading incomplete or inaccurate information. I ask everyone to remember that there are always two sides to every story, and what is shared publicly is often not the full picture. When mistakes occur, we address them through accountability and proper training to ensure we continue to improve.

In closing, please know that I am fully dedicated to the safety of our community. If you see something suspicious, please call. Like many departments, we are currently short-staffed due to budgetary constraints and the realities of today’s world. Every officer leaves their family each day knowing there is a possibility they may not return home, all to protect the citizens of Martins Ferry from crime and harm.

When you see our officers on a traffic stop or handling a call, please look out for them. Remember that they are people—parents, spouses, and neighbors—who are working to make this community a better and safer place.

Take care, and stay safe.
Chief Vincent West
Martins Ferry Police Department

To contact the Police Department by email, select the email address below for the officer or staff you wish to reach. Please be sure to include a phone number(s) or other contact information within your email message if you wish to receive a response from the Police Department staff.

For public records and FOIA requests call or email Sergeant Kade Carpenter.

For questions about accident reports call or email Sergeant Mika Armstrong.

All Police Department staff may be reached by calling 740-633-2121.

Drug Drop Off

Drug Drop Off Box available inside of the Martins Ferry City Building

The intention of this service is to dispose of dangerous prescribed chemicals or narcotics that may cause harm if accidentally ingested or put into nature. Over the counter items such as Aspirin, Vitamins, Cold and Flu medications, and the like can be disposed on your own.

How to Dispose of Unwanted Medications

Mayor’s Court

Mayor’s Court fines can now be paid online using the link below.

Reports and Forms

• Accident Reports
• Citizens Complaint Form
• Employment Application
• Civil Service Exam Application

A Brief History of the Police Department

Law enforcement has existed in various forms in Martins Ferry since the city’s incorporation in 1865. In fact it was in the same year that the city adopted the “Marshal System”.

Little is known regarding the first Marshals, however a consistent history is available via court dockets from the early “Justice of the Peace” system. In this system, Mayors took on the judicial responsibility of all matters prior to the creation of the modern county court system. Archived in the basement of the City Building are dockets spanning from 1878 to 1926.

These dockets show many changes in how Marshals operated. At times a single Marshal seemed to bear the burden of all matters. In 1880 for example, the department had a working Marshal in Robert Hanson, however several Constables worked under him. These included John B. Pyle, William Linn, Israel Phillips, and Nelson Madden.

Beside the ever-changing structure, turmoil was common throughout the late 1800’s. On May 10th, 1883 the Belmont Chronicle ran a story which read:

“The police force of Martin’s Ferry are on strike for $10 per week they now get $8. At council meeting last week that body was informed that they must have $10 or they would resign.”

Just as today, crime during the late 1800’s was a constant challenge for law enforcement.  Suspects would flee via riverboat, or in one instance, hijacking a ferry-boat to escape capture. Riverboat thieves were a common problem, as well as outlawed sporting events such as cockfighting. Substance abuse issues at the time centered on “intoxicating liquors”, particularly during the prohibition era, as evidenced in court documents.

Many changes in the structure of the police occurred between the founding of the Marshal system until the modernization which occurred in 1888 when the department came under the control of the Safety Director. This system has remained intact with a set structure ever since.

A Betty Zane pamphlet written by members of the Martins Ferry Historical Society states:

“Police Department. Organized in 1888. Under control of the safety director. Personnel: Chief, two lieutenants, and twelve patrolmen; 21-31 years of age, at least 5’8” in height and 150 pounds in weight. Identification service instituted in the 1930’s. 

Training: No specific training. Under civil service and chosen on the basis of rating on examination. Policing of dangerous school crossings done by augmented city uniform police appointed by the Mayor.

Salaries: Chief $440 per month, lieutenants $401.50 per month, and patrolmen $363 per month. Two weeks vacation with pay. Increase in salary is made by legislation of council. Under state retirement system.

Jail: Housed in the City Building. Juvenile offenses are referred to the probation officers. Juveniles may be sent to Boys’ Industrial School in Lancaster or Girls’ Industrial School in Delaware. Commitments of juveniles are made by the judges of Common Pleas or Probate Court.  Mayor handles traffic and minor civil cases.”

Formally organized, the department began a period of technological modernization. An article from the March 29th, 1937 Wheeling Intelligencer highlights the addition of the fingerprint department. Notable in the article is Martins Ferry Police Department officer George Helt’s fingerprint lift of notorious “Baby Face” Nelson (Lester Gillis) for a crime committed in Jefferson County. This fingerprint lift was later credited for helping with his capture.

In an article from the Times Leader on August 21st, 1961, the trial of the department’s first radar detector for vehicle speed control occurred. The device was known then as a “radar speed timer.”

Fast forwarding to today, many of the names have changed, but the tendency for crime remains the same. Theft has always been a concern; however crimes have evolved to be more “high-tech” via computer identity theft and credit fraud. Riverboat chases have given way to modern vehicle pursuits, the flatboat exchanged for a Dodge Charger. Officer George Helt would be proud to see the evolution of fingerprinting with portable digitized scanners able to take prints from a suspect at the scene and compare them to known databases without a drop of ink.

The initial trial run of the radar was groundbreaking at the time. Today’s patrol cars are equipped with automatic license plate readers which can detect a stolen plate via a database as quickly as scanning an item at the grocery store. The scanners read the plate, either oncoming or passing, record it, photograph it, and check it in a fraction of a second.