Thompson Township Trustees were especially diligent when choosing Jeremy Jesenovec as the township’s new police chief.
Thompson Township Trustees were especially diligent when choosing Jeremy Jesenovec as the township’s new police chief.
Jesenovec, 53, was officially sworn in as chief May 1 during a regular trustees meeting with no comments from residents in the audience, said Trustee Erwin Leffel in a phone interview May 2.
“He is well qualified,” Leffel said.
The new chief said in a text he is only part time at Thompson PD as he has a fulltime job in Cleveland.
Jesenovec is the third chief of police hired by the trustees in the last few years and was a candidate for the part-time job when the former chief, Mitchell Kaspy, was hired in 2023.
Kaspy came on board after former Police Chief Christopher DiDomenico was fired for allegedly impersonating a police officer and trying to access a law enforcement database. DiDomenico pleaded not guilty July 29 to four felony and four misdemeanor charges related to carrying out his duties without the proper certification.
Kaspy resigned last August, citing the need to focus on his family following the passing of his wife, and trustees began a search for his replacement.
“We did our due diligence,” Leffel said, adding Jesenovec was one of five people trustees interviewed for the job and his background was thoroughly checked.
Jesenovec entered the position well aware of the issues the township has faced.
“In recent years, the Thompson Police Department has encountered significant leadership challenges and scrutiny that have led to terminations, resignations and even criminal charges,” he said in a letter emailed to the Geauga County Maple Leaf. “I want to assure the community and its stakeholders that integrity and professionalism are at the core of my approach.
“With a background check having already been completed by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and strong endorsements from my extensive network, I am fully prepared to uphold the highest standards of law enforcement leadership,” he added.
Jesenovec included a spreadsheet enumerating dozens of trainings and classes he has taken in his 35-year law enforcement career.
In tandem with his new position in Geauga County, the chief said he is chief of public safety at the Cleveland Institute of Art and a part-time police officer with the University Circle Police Department.
Leffel said Jesenovec’s first task as police chief will be to move the police station into the newly-acquired township administrative building just two houses north of Robison Tractor Sales on Thompson Square.
The old building on the south end of the square will be sold or demolished once all the records and furnishings have been moved, Leffel said.
The new chief will also be seeking candidates to fill out the department’s ranks, he said.
Jesenovec became familiar with the Thompson community when he applied for the job in 2023, he said in an interview May 2.
Although he was hesitant to apply a second time, people in Thompson urged him to do so, he said.
In his letter, he spells out his intentions as chief in the small town.
“I am committed to fostering a transparent and cooperative relationship with the media and the community. My aim is to transcend the traditional role of law enforcement leadership by being an accessible and engaged leader,” he said. “Participating in town events, cultivating meaningful relationships and collaborating with residents are key components of my vision. I seek to become not just a leader, but a trusted friend and ally to the community, fostering mutual respect and collective responsibility while ensuring Thompson’s safety and preserving its unique way of life.”
When interviewed, Jesenovec said he will be keeping his current job at CIA while spending his “off hours” in Thompson getting squared away at the new office.
That will include working with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation on an audit of all the evidence from crimes now housed in the old station, he said.
Over the years, Jesenovec said he has experience teaching courses and training, as well, and has a “robust social media” presence, which he intends to use to keep the community informed about department operations.
“I look forward to developing strong relationships with local news outlets to ensure the community is kept informed of news and events that affect our lives,” he said, adding he and his wife, Christy, live in Willowick but are considering relocating to the country.
