Dear Editor,

I would like to express my gratitude and extend my best wishes to Sergeant Beth Scales who recently retired from the Martins Ferry Police Department following nearly 31 years of exemplary service to the community and Ohio Valley.

Sergeant Scales graduated from the Eastern Ohio Law Enforcement Training Academy on February 12th, 1993, and on that same day began her long and illustrious career as an officer with the Martins Ferry Police Department under then chief of police William Patsche and Mayor Carl Mamone.

Sergeant Scales was later appointed to the position of Sergeant, the first to have been so honored by the Martins Ferry Police Department, upon retirement of Sergeant Vincent “Ben” West on October 26th, 2011, serving under then Martins Ferry chief of police John McFarland and Mayor Phil Wallace.

During her outstanding career in law enforcement Sergeant Scales was also instrumental in forming the Martins Ferry Neighborhood Crime Watch and was also responsible for the formation of popular events for the children of the area including Halloween in the Park and the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Martins Ferry.

Sergeant Scales also had a special affinity with and concern for the areas children and was a certified member of the Ohio Juvenile Officers Association as well.

Sergeant Scales will long be remembered and highly respected for her outstanding service and dedication to our chosen profession as well as for her being a true area “trailblazer” in the field of law enforcement.

I sincerely would like to thank Sergeant Scales for her many years of dedicated service to the area and would also like to wish her a long and very happy retirement. Many thanks!

Richard Hord

Martins Ferry