As a citizen you can depend on the Sheriff’s Office to help make a community that is safe and trouble free. But to be truly effective, a Sheriff’s Office depends on your cooperation. Crime and accidents result in the great costs of lives, money, and pain. The Sheriff’s Office is working hard to protect you from these dangers. Your support is vital in the Sheriff’s efforts to prevent and solve crimes, eliminate hazards in and around the community, keep the courts and jails running efficiently, and keep traffic moving smoothly and safely.
Who is your County Sheriff?
Chances are you don’t give much thought to the county Sheriff. You may see an article in the newspaper, a name on the ballot, or a patrol car along side the road. What is it that makes our county Sheriff unique among Ohio law enforcement professionals? The Sheriff is the only elected law enforcement official in the State. This means that every four years he puts his record out for approval. He is accountable to the citizen and voter. Besides the personal accountability required to maintain his post, the Sheriff is a professional, trained in the latest law enforcement techniques and criminal justice procedures.
It’s the combination of the above factors, along with the desire to perform public service, that makes the Sheriff a unique position among Ohio officials. To be truly effective he must, and does, understand the integrity needed to do the job in a legal and responsible manner and uphold the public trust placed in him. A Sheriff is more than an individual. He has an office behind him, made up of deputies and support personnel. It’s an organization of men and women dedicated to protecting and serving the people of our county. The deputies are sworn law enforcement officers. They are appointed by the Sheriff to uphold the laws and preserve the public peace.
Your Sheriff’s Office is working to serve and protect you.
A Sheriff needs the support of the community to do his job effectively. Help your Sheriff by taking the steps to protect yourself and your family from crime and accidents. Be an informed citizen, know the needs of yourself and the community, and communicate with your county Sheriff so he can be aware of how best to serve you. Your help can make a difference. Get to know your Sheriff and the men and women of the Office.
Courts
Sheriffs help to maintain a secure court system by providing courtroom security. Section 311.07 of the Ohio Revised Code, places the responsibility of the court house upon the Sheriff, under the direction and control of the board of county commissioners.
Jail operation
By law the Sheriff shall have charge of the county jail and all persons confined therein. He must do this in a fair and impartial way.
Prisoner transportation
Sheriffs throughout Ohio transport thousands of prisoners each year. Deliveries are made to and from state institutions, holding facilities, and courts, and extraditions are made from other states.
Police services
Due to Ohio’s rural nature, many communities cannot afford their own police forces. Many of Ohio’s communities have law enforcement contracts with the county Sheriff. The Sheriff’s Office also provides law enforcement services, security, and crowd control for special events such as county fairs, concerts and sporting events.
Traffic control
Sheriffs’ personnel are professionally trained in traffic control and vehicle crash investigation. Much of the traffic control and enforcement in our state is done by the Sheriff. Traffic control covers anything from enforcement of traffic laws to directing traffic around special events and construction projects.
Civil process service
Sheriffs are the agency primarily responsible for the service or “delivery” of legal documents in the State. This includes summonses, subpoenas, and law suits. Sheriffs also do evictions, repossessions, attach, and seize and sell property as ordered by the court.
Communications
For many counties in the state the Sheriff operates and maintains a 24 hour-a-day dispatch center that also provides dispatch services for other agencies such as police, fire departments and volunteer ambulance associations.
Specialized programs
Sheriffs help to control crime and traffic with specialized DUI enforcement programs, and drug and alcohol awareness programs. In some counties boating patrol on waterways and lakes is also provided. Many of these programs use federal funds or are joint ventures with other agencies.
Community involvement
Sheriffs are part of our communities, interacting with adults and students alike. Programs include: Neighborhood Watch, School Resource Officer Program, Junior Police Academies, and public exhibitions.
