New wheels make Jericho’s Mingo Creek Park job easier

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

When Washington County Sheriff’s Department Cpl. Jerry Jericho gets home from work, his cheeks sometimes hurt from smiling. 

Jericho has been a deputy with the department for more than 31 years.

Two years ago, after working in the office for decades, he took a new position patrolling in Mingo Creek Park in Finleyville, where he is frequently greeted with waves, smiles and thumbs up from passersby in the park’s many trails, playgrounds and rest areas. 

“I always drive around with my windows down,” Jericho said. “It’s the best part of my job. Just talking to people, waving to them, checking in to make sure they are doing OK.”

Mingo Creek County Park has 2,600 acres of land, with 10 various types of shelters, miles of paved walking trails near a winding creek, hiking and horse trails woven throughout woods, modern playgrounds, two covered bridges, historic homes, an observatory and a model airplane field on the property.

Jericho knows the park like the back of his hand.

Each morning when he jumps in his SUV to start his shift around 7 a.m., Jericho knows several smiling faces and groups await him, including the Ringgold track and cross country team and early-morning walkers who start each day in their favorite spots.

Jericho, who serves as Charleroi Council’s vice president, said “his park” is one of his favorite places.

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Saturday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.