All across America each day ordinary citizens are afforded a blanket of protection provided by selfless dedicated first responders who in many cases put their lives and safety at risk to serve the multitude. One portion of that protection is the common everyday cop on the beat, who is mostly never thought of in our daily lives until we need them the most in emergencies and tragedies and when it really counts we turn to them to restore order. Can any of us truly imagine what life would be like without them standing in the breech for us between good and evil? 

All members of our police force warrant our respect and all are heroes before and after they pin on the badge and fill the holster. In that vain, one such officer is 12 year veteran patrolman Jeremy DeVault. He was born in Peoria June 26, 1981 to Sandy and Ken DeVault. The family lived in Rome, IL and he attended Rome Grade School until the 4th grade. He went to St. Edward’s Catholic School and finally on to Notre Dame High where he played football four years under Denny O’Boyle and Tim Heinz. 

His dad was the plant manager at Champion Furnace Pipe Co. and his mom was a homemaker. His folks fostered children numbering 13 and he and his older brother Kenny were paper boys for west Rome. Compassion and kindness came from Mom while Dad taught don’t quit or give up and always finish what you start. 

After high school he studied electrical engineering at ICC and attained an associate’s degree in accounting. In 2000 he joined the United States Marine Corp Reserve Unit under a six year contract and later was deployed twice to Iraq. While there as a sergeant in the construction combat engineers, he was an assistant squad leader over 13 Marines and responsible for security details for bunker fortifications. He is very familiar with explosives and an extensive assemblage of weapons. Earlier in this period he worked for the Budweiser Corporation and Coca Cola in merchandising, management and sales. 

Then came the graduation from The Police Academy and 12 years of solid employment on the Chillicothe Police force. Jeremy is the father of 9 year old Lily who he cherishes and adores. He likes the small town feel in Chillicothe and working with Cops for Kids as well as being offered an opportunity to help troubled teens in the Lincoln Challenge program. Jeremy loves interacting with parents and helping them with problems as an ambassador of goodwill from our police department. On one special occasion he detected a very large cash of the drug “Ecstasy” on a routine traffic stop and his instincts resulted in many arrests and keeping it off the streets. 

Jeremy is very proud of his military service, his service on the police department and most of all to be married, since July 16, 2022, to a very special lady in his life, Mardee, who after 5 years finally cuffed him when he did not resist arrest.

Roosevelt said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” I have found that a common thread among our officers is the safety and education of our youth. They know collectively that young people and how they grow to be parents is key to reducing crime proactively. But parents are teachers, too, so let’s be part of the equation. 

There have been and always will be Hometown Heroes in Chillicothe of different walks, occupations, and stature and now Officer Patrolman Jeremy DeVault of the Chillicothe Police Department ranks among them. As one of our finest lawmen and your service to our country we thank you Jeremy.