Paden City Police Department

10/29/2026

PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICE: TREE TRIMMING SERVICES AND CONTRACTOR FRAUD

The Paden City Police Department would like to make residents aware of a recent report involving a tree-trimming company hired to perform work on private property within the city.

According to the report received by our Police Clerk, the property owner paid approximately $8,000 toward the agreed-upon work before it was completed. The company allegedly ceased communication with the property owner, failed to return to complete the job, and left the property owner responsible for the remaining cleanup.

The Paden City Police Department takes reports of potential fraud and deceptive business practices seriously. Given the significant amount of money involved, I, Chief K. Cecil, reached out to Chief Timothy Cecil of the New Martinsville Police Department for assistance with this investigation. Chief Timothy Cecil has experience investigating significant fraud cases, and his assistance has been valuable to our efforts.

With assistance from Chief Timothy Cecil, Patrolman S. Gibson, and Councilman M. Turner, information was developed identifying a potential suspect and a possible address associated with this case. The investigation remains ongoing, and the department will pursue appropriate charges as supported by the evidence and applicable law.

WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS WHEN HIRING CONTRACTORS OR OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS:

• Verify local business licensing. Before hiring a company to perform work within Paden City, contact City Hall to inquire about applicable business license requirements.

• Be cautious with upfront payments. Avoid paying the full cost of a project before the agreed-upon work has been completed. If a deposit is required, make sure the terms are clearly documented and understood.

• Get everything in writing. Keep copies of contracts, estimates, receipts, payment records, and any messages exchanged with the contractor.

• Research the company. Ask for references, verify contact information, and review the company’s reputation before agreeing to any work.

• Report concerns early. If a contractor fails to fulfill an agreement, becomes unreachable after receiving payment, or you suspect fraudulent activity, contact the Paden City Police Department.

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR SITUATION?

If you believe you have been affected by a similar incident, we encourage you to contact the Paden City Police Department so we can determine whether further assistance or investigation may be appropriate.

When calling the department, you will initially speak with our Police Clerk. Please provide her with your contact information and a brief explanation of your concerns so she can relay the information to Chief K. Cecil. If available, please have any supporting documentation ready, including contracts, receipts, payment confirmations, and communications with the company.

Your information may help us identify additional incidents, establish patterns of potential fraudulent activity, and determine the appropriate next steps.

Our goal is to protect our residents, pursue accountability when warranted, and help prevent others from becoming victims of similar situations.

We appreciate the cooperation of our residents and the assistance of those who help us serve and protect the Paden City community.

Chief K. Cecil
Paden City Police Department

10/28/2026

The Paden City Police Department would like to extend a sincere thank you to WesBanco Bank in Paden City for the thoughtful appreciation card and donuts in recognition of National First Responders Day.

Gestures like this mean more to us than you may realize. Knowing that our local businesses see, recognize, and appreciate the work we do for our community is truly meaningful. Law enforcement is not always an easy job, but the support and kindness we receive from the people and businesses in our community remind us why we are proud to serve.

Paden City is a special community, and we are grateful to be a part of it. Thank you, WesBanco, for thinking of us and for taking the time to show your appreciation. Your kindness does not go unnoticed!

We are proud to serve this community, and we are thankful for the community that stands behind us.

10/25/2026

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and the friends and family of the Deputy Sheriff who tragically lost his life last night.

10/24/2026

Beginning November 1st, the Paden City Police Department will begin conducting routine security checks at businesses throughout Paden City.

Our goal is simple: help protect our local businesses, deter criminal activity, and provide an extra layer of security even when your business is closed.

These checks will be conducted at all businesses throughout Paden City. Business owners do not need to sign up to have their property checked. However, we want to give every owner the opportunity to communicate with us about any additional security concerns, special requests, or security measures they would like us to consider.

During these checks, officers may:

🔹 Check doors and accessible windows to ensure they are secured and look for signs of attempted entry.

🔹 Walk around the exterior of the property to look for suspicious activity, damaged property, unsecured entrances, or anything that appears out of the ordinary.

🔹 Check parking lots, loading areas, and other accessible portions of the property for unusual activity or potential security concerns.

🔹 Look for suspicious vehicles or individuals around the business and take appropriate action when necessary.

🔹 Document and address security concerns and notify the appropriate business owner or contact when an issue requires attention.

🔐 WANT TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS SECURITY A STEP FURTHER?

While routine exterior security checks will be conducted at all businesses, we understand that some owners may want to take additional precautions.

If you have specific concerns about your business, want officers to pay attention to certain areas, or would like to discuss additional security measures, we encourage you to contact us.

We are also open to discussing arrangements for business owners who would like to provide the department with an additional key for safekeeping. Having an approved key available could assist officers in certain emergencies or allow for a more thorough interior security check when appropriate.

Any key arrangement would be discussed and established with the department beforehand, including secure storage and procedures for authorized access. Providing a key is completely optional and is not required to have your business included in routine security checks.

We want to work with our business owners to understand their individual needs and determine what additional steps, if any, may be appropriate for their properties.

📞 HOW TO GET IN TOUCH

If you would like to discuss additional security measures, provide specific instructions or concerns, or inquire about providing the department with a key, please contact the Paden City Police Department at 304-337-2281 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

When you call, please provide our police clerk with:

✅ Your full name
✅ Your best contact phone number
✅ Your business name
✅ Your business address

Our clerk will relay your information to Chief K. Cecil, who will get in touch with you directly to discuss your requests, answer questions, and go over any additional security needs.

You do not need to call to have your business checked. These routine checks will be conducted throughout the city regardless. We simply want to make sure every business owner has the opportunity to communicate with us and take advantage of additional security options if they wish.

Our goal isn’t just to drive through town and call it a patrol. It’s to be proactive, pay attention to the details, and help identify potential problems before they become something more serious.

We know how much time, money, and hard work goes into running a business. We want our local business owners to know that their properties and investments matter, and we are committed to doing our part to help protect them.

Working together, we can help keep Paden City a safer place to live, work, and do business.

Chief K. Cecil
Paden City Police Department

10/14/2026

I, Chief K. Cecil, want to address the recent concerns regarding the police cruiser parked on the north end of town near GoMart and explain why it was placed there.

First and foremost, after personally visiting the location, I agree that the cruiser made it more difficult to see approaching traffic when pulling out of GoMart. The cruiser has been moved to improve visibility and safety for motorists.

However, I also want to explain why it was there in the first place.

Multiple residents approached me with concerns about semitrailer trucks speeding through town, traffic violations, and trucks parking in that area and contributing to roadway damage and potholes. I listened to those concerns and decided that positioning one of our older Tahoes there was a practical way to help deter these issues.

With only Patrolman S. Gibson and I working full-time, along with limited part-time coverage, we cannot be everywhere at once. Our current budget does not allow for a third full-time officer, which limits our patrol hours and the coverage we can provide.

That is why we are finding ways to make the best use of the resources we have, including strategically positioning our older Tahoes throughout town to increase our visible police presence and discourage traffic violations.

I understand that our residents know these parked cruisers are not always occupied. However, out-of-town drivers and truck drivers passing through may not know that. If having a cruiser visible can stop even one person from speeding, using their phone while driving, or committing another traffic violation, then I believe it serves a purpose.

My goal as your Chief of Police is to improve this department, strengthen relationships with our residents, increase visibility, enforce city ordinances, and bring our equipment up to date so we can better serve our community.

Since taking this position, we have continued enforcing ordinances, addressing property concerns, conducting traffic enforcement when staffing allows, and building stronger relationships with our community. Seeing residents approach us to talk, share concerns, and get to know us has been a huge step in the right direction.

We have also made progress with equipment upgrades. I recently obtained approval from the Wetzel County Commission for more than $50,000 in funding for new body-worn cameras, in-car cameras, and Tasers. This is an important step forward for officer safety, accountability, and our ability to serve the community.

As both Chief of Police and a Paden City resident, I believe we are moving in the right direction. We still have plenty of work ahead, and I will never claim we can prevent every crime or fix every problem overnight. What we can do is remain proactive, listen to residents, and continue making improvements with the resources available to us.

I understand that not everyone will agree with every decision I make. All I ask is that you give our department a fair chance and trust that we are working toward what is best for this community. Being Chief is not simply about being in charge or doing what I think is best. It is about listening to residents, evaluating situations, considering different perspectives, and making decisions with the community’s best interests in mind. I will continue listening to concerns and making adjustments when necessary.

Paden City is our community, too. I want to see this city improve, and I am committed to doing my part to make that happen. We may be a small department with limited resources, but we will keep working hard to serve our residents and make a difference for as long as we can.

Thank you to everyone who supports our department, shares concerns, and works with us to make Paden City a better place to live.

P.S. The cruisers aren’t always empty.

Chief K. Cecil
Paden City Police Department

09/04/2026

Prayers🙏🏽

08/22/2026

📢UPDATE

The individual pictured in our previous post has been identified.

The Paden City Police Department would like to sincerely thank everyone who reached out and provided information. We greatly appreciate the assistance and continued support from our community and from those outside our community who took the time to help.

We would also like to acknowledge that, although the actions in this incident were not appropriate and resulted in damage to City property, the individual contacted the Police Department after seeing our post, acknowledged his actions, and expressed his willingness to take responsibility for the damage.

While we certainly do not condone damaging City property or violating the law, we do appreciate individuals who are willing to come forward, acknowledge their actions, and make an effort to make things right. Taking responsibility for one’s actions is important, and we appreciate his decision to contact the department.

Once again, thank you to everyone who assisted us in identifying this individual. Your continued support and willingness to help our department are greatly appreciated.

-Chief K. Cecil

08/22/2026

🚨 HELP US IDENTIFY THIS INDIVIDUAL 🚨

The Paden City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual pictured below.

On August 17, 2026, at approximately 3:00 a.m., an individual was captured on surveillance footage causing damage to the restroom doors at the Paden City Park.

If you recognize this individual or have any information that may assist us in identifying him, please contact the Paden City Police Department through Facebook Messenger or by calling the department Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.

Please do not confront or approach the individual. We also ask that you do not post names, personal information, or accusations. If you have information, please send it directly to the Paden City Police Department so it can be properly documented and investigated.

The individual has not been identified at this time. Any information, no matter how small it may seem, could be helpful.

And remember… If you’re practicing your karate skills, please don’t practice them on City property.

08/21/2026

Congratulations, Patrolman Leek of the Sistersville Police Department! We’re looking forward to working together and having each other’s backs as neighboring departments. Stay safe, and congratulations again!

Congratulations Patrolman Leek for completing his training at the WV State Police Academy.

04/08/2026

We’ve received concerns about grass ordinance… so we brought in specialized equipment to handle it. Zoomed in for maximum compliance.🔎🌾