City of Princeton, WV - Police Department

09/25/2026

**Fugitive Arrested**

On 9/23/26 Cpl. S.M. Severt began a search for Jason Dale Bailey. A wanted fugitive with numerous active warrants. With the help of the community, Cpl. Severt was able to locate and arrest Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Bailey was charged with the following:

Failure to Register as a S*x Offender
Burglary
Grand Larceny
Destruction of Property

Capias’ out of Mercer County for Conspiracy and Burglary.

Mr. Bailey was also a Fugitive from Justice out of Tazewell County VA

We’d like to commend Cpl. Severt for pursuing, locating, and arresting Mr. Bailey - getting another criminal out of our community.

We’d also like to thank the community we serve for valuable information. The partnership between the community we have is a great testament of how when we work together, we build a safer Princeton.

09/23/2026

**Cold Case - Murder Investigation Reopened**

On January 19th, 2012 the body of Angela Lynne Cook aka McKinney, was located in an abandoned, condemned building near the area of what was 823 Mercer Street in Princeton. That building has since been demolished. The death of Ms. Cook was ruled a homicide, but after an extensive investigation, an arrest was never able to be made. With the advancement of technology along with DNA testing, investigators have reopened the case in hopes of solving, making an arrest and securing a conviction of the person responsible. Giving answers and closure to the family of Ms. Cook is of the upmost importance. If you have information regarding the case of Angela Cook, please reach out to the Princeton Police Department at (304) 487-5000.

Investigator - Detective Corporal D. Gibson.

Attached is a picture of Ms. Cook

09/11/2026

Today, Chief Ben Woodard had the opportunity to spend some time with Ms. Hall’s 5th grade class at Summit Christian Academy and talk with them about September 11, 2001.

Chief Woodard shared his personal memories of that day and how the events of 9/11 changed the direction of his life. He talked with the students about the courage shown by police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who ran toward danger to help others, and the impact their actions had on him. He also spoke about why, in the months following September 11th, he made the decision to join the United States Army and later began his career in law enforcement. More than two decades later, he continues to serve his community as Chief of Police and his country as a member of the United States Army Reserve.

For these students, September 11th is a part of history they are learning about. For Chief Woodard, it was a day that ultimately changed the course of his life and led him toward a life of service.

Thank you to Ms. Hall and Summit Christian Academy for giving Chief Woodard the opportunity to share his story and spend some time with a great group of students.

Never Forget. 🇺🇸

09/10/2026

The Princeton Police Department is currently accepting applications for Police Officer.

Physical and written examinations will be held on
October 17th, 2026 beginning at 0900. The physical test will be given at the Princeton High School track off of Tiger Drive. For those who pass the physical, they will be invited to take the written exam directly afterward.

New hires will receive a $10,000 sign-on bonus.

Take-home cruisers

Leadership that encourages proactive policing

$1,000 per year uniform allowance

Longevity pay

New equipment

Free Gym Memberships

Competitive Salary with multiple overtime opportunities.

Free Insurance Available: dental, eye, health.

20 year retirement

Specialty Units Include: K-9, Detective Bureau, Drone Operator, Federal Task-Force (US Marshal), Field Training Officer, Highway Safety, Criminal Interdiction, ACE Team, DARE, Crime Scene, SWAT.

New state-of-the-art Police Department coming soon.

Applications can be picked up in person or completed online at cityofprinceton.org

Questions? Contact an administrator at (304) 487-5000

Opportunity at work in the crossroads of Southern West Virginia. Moved by a spirit of entrepreneurship and new growth, our town is your place of opportunity.

08/12/2026

PRINCETON POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE NEEDED – SERIOUS HIT-AND-RUN

The Princeton Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying the vehicle and driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that left a pedestrian seriously injured.

At approximately 11:45 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, a pedestrian was crossing Morrison Drive from the Four Seasons Pharmacy parking lot when they were struck by a small, dark-colored sedan traveling north on Morrison Drive.

The force of the collision threw the pedestrian over the guardrail and into the adjacent field. The driver continued north on Morrison Drive and left the scene without stopping.

The pedestrian suffered serious bodily injuries.

Images of the vehicle believed to be involved are included with this post. While identifying details may be limited, someone may recognize the vehicle based on its appearance or know someone who was traveling in the area at the time of the crash.

We are asking anyone who:

Recognizes the vehicle shown in the images;
Knows who may have been driving it Monday night;
Saw the vehicle in the Morrison Drive area around the time of the crash; or
Has security camera, doorbell camera, or dash-camera footage from the area around 11:45 p.m.

to contact the Princeton Police Department.

During Business Hours: Princeton Police Department — 304-487-5000
After Business Hours: Mercer County 911 Non-Emergency — 304-425-8911

Please share this information. Someone in our community may recognize this vehicle and have the information we need to identify the driver.

08/06/2026

PRINCETON POLICE DEPARTMENT
MAJOR DRUG SEIZURE

On August 6, 2026, members of the Princeton Police Department concluded a two-month drug investigation involving more than 100 hours of surveillance and targeted enforcement.

The investigation led to the ex*****on of a search warrant, one felony arrest, and the seizure of a significant amount of suspected illegal drugs, two fi****ms, and cash.

Officers seized:

3.75 ounces of suspected fentanyl
1 pound, 4.5 ounces of suspected methamphetamine
12 grams of suspected co***ne
3.4 grams of suspected crack co***ne
10 ounces of suspected ma*****na
Two fi****ms
$678 in U.S. currency

The suspected drugs have an estimated street value of $75,830.

The investigation resulted in four counts of Possession With Intent to Deliver Schedule I/II Controlled Substances and a charge of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Fi***rm.

This investigation took two months and more than 100 hours of surveillance to bring to a conclusion. That is the kind of work it takes to build these cases, and that is the kind of work our officers are willing to do.

Let me be clear: if you are selling fentanyl, methamphetamine, co***ne, or other dangerous drugs in Princeton, we are going to come after you. It may take days, weeks, or months, but we will do the work necessary to identify you, and hold you accountable.

The drugs and fi****ms seized during this investigation will not make it back onto the streets of Princeton. That matters, and it is exactly why we continue to make drug enforcement a priority.

I am proud of the officers involved in this investigation. They put in long hours, stayed with the case, and produced results. The Princeton Police Department will continue to aggressively target those who sell dangerous drugs in our community.

Chief Ben Woodard

08/01/2026

07/16/2026

Brick Street in Princeton just past Princeton Rescue Squad will be closed Monday July 20th from 7am-7pm. WVDOH will be replacing a drainage culvert. Please plan ahead.

06/25/2026

Today, the members of the Princeton Police Department had the privilege of celebrating Jamie Lane as she prepares to retire after 15 years of dedicated service to our department.

Family, and coworkers gathered for a retirement luncheon to recognize Jamie's years of commitment, professionalism, and the countless contributions she has made behind the scenes in support of our officers and our community. Her dedication and positive attitude have been appreciated by everyone who has had the opportunity to work alongside her.

Jamie began her career with the Princeton Police Department on March 21, 2011, and will officially retire on June 30, 2026. While we will certainly miss seeing her at the department each day, we are grateful for her years of faithful service and wish her nothing but happiness, good health, and many new adventures in retirement.

Please join us in congratulating Jamie on a well-earned retirement and thanking her for 15 years of service to the Princeton Police Department.

Congratulations, Jamie! Enjoy your retirement—you've earned it!

06/18/2026

POSITION OPENING:
Secretary / Administrative Assistant – City of Princeton Police Department.

Full-time, 40-hour workweek. Excellent benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, and a state pension retirement. High school diploma or GED required. Will perform various duties related to the department’s front office in support of the operations and duties under the general supervision of the Chief of Police. Serves as a point of contact for citizens, employees, and outside agencies while maintaining departmental records and other duties as assigned.

Preference given to applicants with formal training, experience and/or knowledge of clerical and general office procedures within Police department operations. Public relations, computer skills necessary. Pay commensurate with experience. M-F 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Applications will be available at City Hall, 800 Bee Street, Princeton, WV 24740, or a resume and cover letter can be submitted to the Human Resource office until 4:30 p.m., June 26th, 2026. Interested applicants can also apply through the city’s website at, https://cityofprinceton.org/careers/

The City of Princeton is an Equal Opportunity Employer.