OBERLIN, Ohio — Chief Robert “BJ” Jones, the first African-American police chief for the Oberlin Police Department, has died, the police department confirmed Monday.
Jones began his career at the Oberlin Police Department as a dispatcher prior to becoming a full-time patrol officer in 1967.
Eventually, he reached the rank of sergeant and became police chief in 1980, a position he held until his retirement in 2000.
After his retirement, he became the Director of Oberlin College Campus Safety.
In a Facebook post remembering Jones, the Oberlin Police Department said he was a “good man and became a friend to so many people throughout his decade of service."
“He positively impacted the lives of his co-workers and peers including some of us who are here at OPD today. BJ was a staple in the Oberlin Community and will always be remembered for his dedication, service and especially his friendship,” the department wrote.
