CIRCLEVILLE, OH — Paul Pride has been named Circleville’s new Safety Director, bringing a wealth of law enforcement experience to the role, as announced on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 12:39 PM EDT. Pride, a former Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent, shared insights into his extensive career and vision for the city’s safety services during a recent interview.
Pride’s journey began with seven years in the Marine Corps straight out of high school, followed by a stint in the private sector. In May 1989, he joined the Ohio State Highway Patrol as a cadet, serving in various southeastern Ohio posts including Marietta, Gallipolis, Jackson, and Cambridge. In 2011, he was promoted to captain in the Jackson District and transferred to Columbus to lead the Special Operations Unit, overseeing SWAT, crime labs, investigations, criminal patrol, drug interdiction, and canine units. A year later, he became a lieutenant colonel the assistant superintendent. In 2013, under Governor John Kasich and Director John Born, Pride was appointed superintendent, a position he held until retiring in March 2019.
Post-retirement, Pride consulted for the Office of Criminal Justice Services, managing grant programs for law enforcement and first responders, and worked with a Delaware law firm on the Camp Lejeune water contamination case. Since August 2024, he has served as a consultant for Circleville, assisting with police department development, which paved the way for his new role.
As Safety Director, Pride aims to hit the ground running, leveraging his prior exposure to Circleville’s operations. He identified fiscal challenges as a key issue, emphasizing the need for responsible budget management amidst funding constraints. “Personnel is about 80-83% of your budget, so navigating financial challenges while maintaining day-to-day operations is critical,” he said. Despite never receiving a budget increase during his Highway Patrol tenure, Pride led the agency to its highest personnel levels in its 93-year history through fiscal responsibility—a model he hopes to replicate in Circleville.
Training emerged as a priority, particularly for the police department, which has seen significant turnover. “If you’re not working the street, you should be training or preparing,” Pride noted, underscoring its role in future success. He also stressed the importance of community engagement, especially after recent failures to pass a safety levy. “We need the community to come alongside us—see something, say something, and offer encouragement,” he urged, advocating for open communication to rebuild trust.
Pride’s goal is to leave Circleville’s safety services better than he found them, a track record he’s maintained throughout his career. For more information, residents can contact the Safety Director’s office.
