NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) - The New Philadelphia Community is remembering a longtime city official who served with police and later council.  

Jim Locker passed away Sunday at the age of 88. Locker spent 30 years with the police department, including 19 years as chief. He was also a council member for 20 years. Mayor Joel Day says Locker’s influence on the city was significant.

“He was very passionate about New Philadelphia and its people. He wanted to do the best he could for our community, and it shows. Jim was influential in some decisions that were made about developments in the city, infrastructure. Everything from the parks to the cemeteries, Jim had a hand in it,” he says.

Day says he sees Locker’s legacy continuing.

“He will be missed. The good news is that there are more Jim Lockers out there because of Jim Locker. Because of his ability to communicate his passion and the necessity to improve New Philadelphia, there will be many people who follow in his footsteps,” he says. 

Locker was a Dover High School graduate and served in the Army during the Korean War. He is survived by his wife, Frances. Calling hours are tonight from 5 to 8 pm at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. 

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