Vandalia Police Department

10/12/2026

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to our Homecoming Community Tailgate with First Responders! 🏈🚔🚒

We had an incredible time connecting with our community, enjoying great food, sharing laughs, and celebrating the amazing spirit of Vandalia-Butler! It was wonderful seeing so many familiar faces and making new connections with the families who make our community so special.

A special thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, including our first responder partners, event supporters, and everyone who donated their time and resources. Your support means so much to us!

🏆 And now, for the important news… THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN CO****LE! 🚔🚒

We know the Fire Department is used to putting out fires, but apparently, they couldn't put out our hot streak! 😂 We may have to add co****le champions to our list of police department accomplishments!

Thank you, Vandalia, for making this such a fun and memorable evening. We are proud to serve a community that shows up, supports one another, and knows how to have a great time together!

10/10/2026

Your Mental Health Matters. 💙

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Taking care of yourself, checking in on others, and asking for help when you need it are all signs of strength. It’s okay to ask for help—and you don’t have to face a difficult moment alone.

A few ways to support your mental health:
🔷 Talk to someone you trust
🔷 Take time to rest and recharge
🔷 Stay connected with friends, family, and your community
🔷 Get outside and stay active
🔷 Reach out for professional support when needed
🔷 Check in on someone who may be struggling

Whether you are experiencing a mental health crisis, feeling overwhelmed, struggling with emotional distress, or simply need someone to talk to, help is available 24/7.

📞 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 anytime for free, confidential support for mental health, emotional distress, or suicidal crisis. The 988 system can connect individuals with local crisis response resources.

📞 Samaritan CrisisCare
937-224-4646
Local 24/7 crisis intervention, emergency mental health evaluations, and support.

💬 Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential crisis support by text.
You can also text HOME to 833-580-2255.

☎️ Miami Valley Warmline
937-528-7777
Peer-to-peer, non-crisis emotional support and a listening ear.

💙 Remember: Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. You are not alone, and there are people ready to listen.

10/09/2026

We had such a great time spending the day with the littlest Aviators at Helke Early Learning Center! Thank you for inviting us to be part of this special event and for giving us the opportunity to connect with our youngest community members.

Keep soaring, little Aviators! 💜💛

10/09/2026

🏈💜💛 HOMECOMING COMMUNITY TAILGATE WITH FIRST RESPONDERS! 💜💛🏈

Get ready to kick off Homecoming Night with the Vandalia-Butler community! Join us for a FREE tailgate before the Vandalia Butler High School football game and spend some time with the first responders who serve our community.

📅 Friday, October 9, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 Butler High School Tennis Courts

Come out and enjoy:
🌭 FREE Hot Dogs
🥔 FREE Chips
💧 FREE Water

🏈 Get ready for an exciting Homecoming football game! Bring your family, wear your Vandalia Butler colors, and help us celebrate our students, athletes, first responders, and community!

All donations will go to the Vandalia Butler Athletic Boosters.

We hope to see you there! Go Aviators! ✈️🏈💜💛

10/07/2026

🏈 VANDALIA-BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING PARADE 🏈

The Vandalia Division of Police would like to remind the community that the Vandalia-Butler High School Homecoming Parade will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM.

The parade will begin at National Road and Helke Road and travel:

➡️ East on National Road to Dixie Drive
⬇️ South on Dixie Drive to East Alkaline Springs Road
🏁 The parade will end at Vandalia-Butler High School.

🚧🔄DETOUR ROUTES🔄🚧

Motorists traveling toward Dixie Drive are encouraged to use the following detours:

🔹 Detour #1:
South on Peters Pike → East on Stonequarry Road → Dixie Drive

🔹 Detour #2:
South on Helke Road → East on West Alkaline Springs Road → Dixie Drive

🔹 Detour #3:
South on Ranchview Drive → East on Kenbrook Drive → West on East Alkaline Springs Road → Dixie Drive

📣Please plan ahead and allow extra travel time. We ask motorists to follow posted detour signs, obey barricades and directions from officers, and use caution around pedestrians and parade participants.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to keep our students, families, parade participants, and community safe! 💜💛

10/06/2026

Last week, Support K9 Bo and his handler, Det. Holly Estepp, completed a rigorous 40-hour Crisis K9 / Therapy K9 First Response Course at OPOTA.

The course was developed in partnership with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department and is designed to prepare handlers and their K9 partners to provide animal-assisted support during crises, critical incidents, community outreach, and disaster response.

Throughout the week, Bo and Det. Estepp put their skills to the test in a variety of challenging environments and high-stress scenarios. Bo received reinforced basic command instruction and was introduced to advanced obedience commands, while both Bo and Det. Estepp participated in stability and stress-response training.

The training included some unique real-world experiences, including:
🐾 A visit to the zoo
🐾 Exposure to mount patrol
🐾 Training at a fire station
🐾 A boat ride
🐾 Experiencing the landing and takeoff of a helicopter

These experiences are designed to help Bo learn to remain calm, focused, and responsive while processing the types of distractions he may encounter during real-world deployments.

At the conclusion of the course, Bo and Det. Estepp successfully received their certification! 🎓🐾

Det. Estepp shared that the course gave her even more confidence in her role as Bo’s handler and in Bo’s abilities.

We are incredibly proud of both of them and the dedication they continue to show in preparing to support our officers, our community, and those who may need a little extra support during difficult moments.

Great job, Bo and Det. Estepp! 💙🐾

📸Credit to: OPOTA (Ohio Police Officer Training Academy)

10/05/2026

💜 October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 💜

Domestic violence affects individuals and families in every community. This month, the Vandalia Division of Police stands with survivors and advocates to raise awareness, encourage education, and promote prevention.

You are not alone. Help is available. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out for support. Trust your instincts, speak up, and know that asking for help is a sign of strength.

Let’s work together to create a community where everyone feels safe, respected, and supported.

💜 Awareness | Education | Support | Prevention 💜

10/01/2026

Please take a look at the latest area traffic alert for Saturday.

President Donald Trump will be visiting Vandalia on Saturday, October 3.

The Vandalia Division of Police wants you to know that you should expect road closures and delays.

East Alkaline Springs Road will be closed for the majority of the day from Dixie Dr. to Bennert Dr.

Residents of Vandalia Village will have access to enter and leave the complex.

Local traffic from the Crestwood Hills neighborhood will need to use Bennert Drive., Kenbrook Drive., Farrell Road, or Stonequarry Road for access to Dixie or National.

Traffic will be maintained on National Road and Dixie Drive during the day.

Dixie Drive will be shut down in the evening, south of National Road to East Alkaline Springs Road. Northbound Dixie traffic will detour on West Alkaline Springs Road to Helke Road during evening closure. Southbound Dixie Drive from National Road will detour to National Road to Helke Road or Interstate 75 during the evening closure.

Tomorrow, the City of Vandalia will post specific parking options for visitors planning to attend the rally.

Foot traffic is permitted on public sidewalks and not on private property unless consent is given by property owners.

On-site parking will be in designated parking locations. Those locations will be announced on Thursday, October 1. Once these parking areas are full, the lots will be shut down for vehicular access.

Foot traffic attempting to enter from the Bennert Drive sidewalk access to the rear of the football stadium will not have access to the entrance to the event. All guests will need to enter from the northwest side of the High School.

Temporary no-parking zones will be in force on area side streets on Saturday for the safe passage of emergency vehicles. Vehicles in unauthorized areas will be subject to immediate tow.