Kirkersville police chief passes away at his home

Tragedy struck again for the Kirkersville Police Department.

Chief James Hughes Jr. died Friday morning, Mayor Terry Ashcraft said on Saturday morning.

The death comes a little more than a year after the slaying of Chief Eric DiSario, Marlina Medrano and Cindy Krantz at the Pine Kirk Care Center.

Ashcraft said he received a call from the Reynoldsburg Police Department between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Friday informing him of Hughes' death.

Emergency records show an ambulance was sent to Hughes' address at 10:54 a.m. Friday for a person who was not breathing. The circumstances around the death were not totally known, but an autopsy would be performed, the mayor said.

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Reynoldsburg Police Sergeant Dave Bauchmoyer confirmed Saturday morning the death remains under investigation. He said police were contacted Friday by medics on the scene of the home where Hughes lived in Reynoldsburg.

In a short news release, Reynoldsburg Police stated "Patrol officers responded to 7195 Anne Court after Fire Department medics pronounced a person deceased. The Reynoldsburg Police Detective Bureau and the Franklin County Coroner's Office are conducting an investigation."

Ashcraft said Hughes worked Thursday evening and Hughes stopped by Ashcraft's home.

"He was happy as can be," Ashcraft said.

Hughes was hired March 13, less than a week after former chief Jeff Finley resigned by saying Ashcraft created a "hostile work environment."

Hughes had previously worked at the Valleyview Police Department, Fairfield County Sheriff's Office, Brice Police Department and the Ohio Health Police Department as a police officer. While his police history was checkered, many residents of the village said they believed he was doing a good job.

Ashcraft said people in the town liked Hughes, and he did a good job as chief.

"He was hired in March and wasn't here that long, but he kept me informed (about) what was going on," he said. "A lot of stuff goes on in this town and he'd come and done his job and never had a complaint on him."

The Kirkersville village council was in the process of increasing Hughes work week from 20 hours a week to 32 to meet the demands of the job. Hughes was paid $14 per hour.

Kirkersville has two auxiliary officers, but Ashcraft said one is on permanent military leave and will not be home until later in the year.

Ashcraft notified the Licking County Sheriff's Office of Hughes' passing, and the sheriff's office will cover the village if needed.

It will be up to Kirkersville Village Council to select a new chief, Ashcraft said.

"Hopefully we can take one of our officers and move them into that position temporarily," he said. "It's going to be up to council."

Funeral arrangements are still pending, Ashcraft said.