Remembering Jerry Ivey’s Dedication and Sacrifice: Why a True Crime Story Belongs at Janine Chellington Press

Jennifer Toelle
Feb 16
2 min read

Updated: Feb 25

“Literature with depth and elegance.” That’s the standard I’ve set for Janine Chellington Press. But how does that fit with a true crime story? How does elegance weave into tragedy?

Because some stories demand to be told.

Growing up as a police officer’s daughter, I understood the unspoken truth every time my father put on that uniform—he might not come home. That reality hit hard when a classmate lost his father in the line of duty. I remember my dad coming home from a late shift, then turning right around to attend the funeral. The grief. The loss. The weight that settled over our hometown in Ohio.

When Jim Norton—my first publishing design client—approached me about Ivey Badge 44, I felt surprised. And deeply honored. He had written a biography, a local history, a true crime story that deserved to be remembered. This project fit my mission exactly—preserving history, honoring legacy, and telling stories that shape communities.

As I worked on designing this book, people often asked me: Who was Jerry Ivey?

We say his name casually—“Let’s meet at Jerry Ivey Park.” We take family photos there, watch kids splash in the water park, walk the trails, gather for reunions. But many don’t know the weight behind that name.

Jerry Ivey was more than a name on a park sign. He was a man—a husband, a father, a police officer who gave his life serving this city. And yet, as time passes, names turn into landmarks. Stories fade. Unless we fight to keep them alive.

I often drive past Jerry Ivey Park. And now, after reading Jim’s manuscript, it means something deeper. I see sunlight hitting the trees, families laughing, moments being made. And I wonder—does Jerry still watch over this city?

Jim Norton’s book, Ivey Badge 44, releases March 1, 2025.