January 18, 2023 – Hartford, WI – On behalf of myself, the Hartford Police Department staff, and the entire Hartford community, I request your assistance in honoring the memory our former Chief of Police, Thomas O. Jones, who passed away recently.
Chief Jones faithfully served the Hartford community for 33 years in law enforcement.
Our community is very proud of Chief Jones. He began working for the Hartford Police Department in March of 1973 as a part-time dispatcher and became a sworn police officer in February of 1975. He steadily rose through the ranks of the Police Department and was promoted to Sergeant in February of 1982.
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He later served as interim Chief until his appointment as Chief of Police in 1992. After his appointment, he worked tirelessly to modernize law enforcement in our community, and create what we believe was the best trained, most professional small city police department in Wisconsin at that time.
As a strong advocate of advanced education for law enforcement personnel, Chief Jones led by example. He was the FIRST police officer in our community to complete a certified program in basic police academy training.
In addition to a variety of law enforcement training courses, Tom received an Associate Degree in Supervisor Management from Moraine Park Technical College and completed his formal education in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He received his bachelor’s degree while working full time as a sergeant with the Hartford Police Department.
His most notable achievements while employed by the City of Hartford include the development of the Police Chaplain Program and the creation of a Police School Liaison Officer. Each year Tom attended DARE graduation for our children at local schools, and he was a leader in establishing a municipal court for Washington/Ozaukee County.
Chief Jones implemented a First Time Offender program offering a second chance to those juveniles who found themselves arrested for alcohol violations. He assigned an officer as Hartford’s first investigator to the Washington County Multijurisdictional Drug Unit. Chief Jones also worked with Washington County to create a county-wide telecommunication system capable of facilitating and coordinating law enforcement efforts into the 21st Century.
Chief Jones brought new technology, including some we still use today, to the police department. He oversaw the installation of the first in-car video systems and deployed the first laser radar device. He updated the decals on the squad cars to be easily identifiable.
As a recognized community leader, Chief Jones was at the forefront of many community charity events and activities. When illness left one of our former police officers with a mountain of medical bills, it was Tom Jones who organized a fund raiser and community effort for the family.
Click HERE for the complete obituary for former Chief Tom Jones
There are several scholarship funds and initiatives which have benefited from his involvement, and he was a regular feature at Thanksgiving dinners hosted by one of our area churches.
Chief Tom Jones offered me a position as a police officer in 1996. I always felt the great trust he placed in me to do the job. He was there to offer encouragement during the hard times and a nice pat on the back during the good times. Today, as the current Chief of Hartford Police Department, I reflect on the selfless, unwavering examples of leadership and professionalism that were the tenets of his time as Chief. He’s had a huge impact on my career and my passion for doing what I do. He will be greatly missed. We thank him for his service to the Hartford community.
Respectfully,
Chief Scott MacFarlan