When Brett Pauley graduated from Madison High School, he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life, least of all that he would eventually be a police chief. Though he played high school football, he didn’t see a future in sports. He decided to go to West Virginia Technical School, though it did little to help him decide on a future.
“After that I started working in construction,” Pauley, 44.
His older brother, Rick, had gone to the police academy, worked at GM and was a part-time officer for Bellville. “I rode along with him sometimes and thought his job was pretty cool.” His brother had great stories to share and this piqued an interest in the younger Pauley.
Knowing he didn’t want to remain in construction for the rest of his life, Pauley decided to follow in his brother’s footsteps and go the police academy in London, OH (OPOTA). He started in July of 1991.
“The academy was a wake-up call for me,” says Pauley, shaking his head. “We got up super early for physical training and it was military style – very rigorous.” He went full-time to the academy and graduated after five months in November of 1991.
At that time, anyone wanting to attend the police academy had to be sponsored by a local police department. The Bellville Police Department, where Pauley’s brother worked, sponsored him but afterwards he was hired as an auxiliary officer for the Lexington Police Department before he ever had a chance to work for Bellville.
Today officers don’t have to be sponsored by a particular department. Instead they have what’s called Open Enrollment – and classes are offered locally at North Central Technical College as a part-time, six-month program.
Pauley continued to work in construction while an auxiliary officer until he was hired as a full-time officer for the Lexington Police Department in August of 1992.
In 1995 Pauley married Heather Sarbach of Loudonville. Together they have two boys, Brett Jr., 16 and a high school sophomore, and Cole, 9, a third grader.
In 2003, when Lexington Police Chief Hamrick retired after ten years of service, Pauley put his name in for police chief and got the position.
“There were a lot of sleepless nights for my wife, especially during those early years,” explains Pauley. “We were living in Ontario then. After that I moved my family closer to the job here in Lexington.” Their family settled into Lexington life and can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Pauley says they now live so close he could “throw a baseball and hit the side of my house from work.”
Baseball is a good analogy for Pauley, whose sons are both involved in the sport. Brett Jr. plays for Lexington High School’s Junior Varsity as first baseman and is one of several pitchers on the team. His younger son, Cole, plays on both a traveling team and the local recreational LBSA (Lexington Baseball/Softball Association) of which Pauley coaches.
Last year, Pauley coached seven and eight year olds who had come from T-ball and had no real idea how to play the game. “We started practice in early April and those boys really played hard.” So hard, in fact, that they came in second place and won trophies.
“He was amazing with the boys,” said Sharon Hamer whose son, Brendan, played on Pauley’s Diamondbacks team. “He was patient but worked them hard and taught them to be good sportsman.” The parents from last year’s team went in together on an 11 x 14 framed photograph. Brett Jr. also helped with the team and did wonders with the young boys who looked up to the older player.
“I want to be really good at first base like him someday,” says eight-year-old Samuel Leedy about his time with Brett Jr. last season.
A typical weekday after-school schedule for the Pauleys includes a game on Monday and Wednesday for Brett Jr. and Cole’s game on Thursday. Fridays are open but they go into Saturday with Brett’s team and a double-header and Cole has either a game or practice on Sunday.” There’s no hint of complaining in Pauley’s voice. Instead, he is beaming.
He loves the sport and loves spending time with his sons. “I ended up in sports after all,” he says of his false prediction that his future would not involve sports.
Eligible for retirement in a few years, Police Chief Pauley isn’t even considering it right now. “I don’t have any plans to retire until Cole, my youngest, graduates from high school.”
What does he want to do when he does retire? Pauley and his wife “plan to travel down south as we both love the beach and warm weather.” After that, he dreams of spending time with his future grandchildren and maybe get the opportunity to be their little league coach.
