Protection and Duty - Sheriff

The Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association

During the reign of Alfred the Great a new unit of government was created known as the "shire".  It was the forerunner of the modern day "county".  Each "shire" was led by a "reeve" (chief).  It was the responsibility of the "shire-reef" to maintain law and order within his own "shire" (county).  In those early days there were no police, no judges, no magistrates, etc ... the Sheriff did everything.  He had the power to arrest, raise armies, collect taxes, preside over courts, deal with traitors, and do everything on the King's behalf.

In the battle of Hastings in 1066 the Saxon King Harold was defeated by the Normans.  The Normans centralized power under the King and it was the Sheriff who became the enforcer of the law throughout the Kingdom.  Even after the despotic King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta restoring basic rights and freedoms in England, the Office of Sheriff maintained its critical importance of keeper of the peace.  It should be noted that the role of Sheriff is mentioned nine times in the Magna Carta. (http://www.lakecountyohio.org/sheriff/history.htm)

The following information is available on the Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association web site and the Scioto County Sheriff's web site. This blog indicates some of the sworn responsibilities and duties of members of the Sheriff's Department in Scioto County. We must be certain that our law enforcement officers are doing their jobs. If the public refuses to cooperate, breakdowns and problems can occur between citizens and enforcement. As activists, we must also be watchdogs over the political process, our elected officials, and our appointed officers.

Scioto County Sheriff 

The sheriff of Scioto County is Marty V. Donini. Here is an address and an active E-mail address.

Scioto County Sheriff's Office 

1025 Sixteenth Street

Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
scso@sciotocountysheriff.com 

Other important numbers for the Scioto County Sheriff's Department include the following:

Emergency...........................911 

Dispatch.....................354-7566 

Corrections/Jail.... 740-355-8277 

Investigations.......740-355-8245 

Civil Division........740-355-8269

Fax.....................740-355-8237
 

The Sheriff, himself, 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 to the 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.

To be truly effective he must, and does, understand the integrity needed to do the job in a legal and responsible manner and to 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. This office is 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.

Being an informed citizen, knowing your needs and the needs of the community, and communicating with your county Sheriff  help him 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.

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.

Sheriffs help to control crime and traffic with specialized DUI enforcement programs, and drug and alcohol awareness programs.

Sheriffs are part of our communities, interacting with adults and students alike. Programs include D.A.R.E., Neighborhood Watch, Explorers, McGruff, and the Speakers' Bureau.

Ohio is divided into 4 districts each containing twenty two counties. Each district has two Sheriff Directors and one Deputy Director who serve on the board.

State Sheriffs' Association

Here is a contact for the State Sheriffs' Association of Ohio and an active E-mail address.

Ohio

Robert Cornwell
Executive Director
Buckeye State Sheriffs Assn
Columbus, OH

rcornwel@gte.net

Sheriff Donini is a member of the RX Drug Action Team in Scioto County. Working in conjunction with the Portsmouth Police Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the DEA, and the Ohio Attorney General's Office, the Sheriff's Department is vital to the welfare of the citizens in the county. Coordinated efforts by all groups to combat the alarming rate of prescription drug abuse in Scioto County continue to proceed.

It is the sincere hope of the Facebook Citizen's Action Group, "Fix the Scioto County Problem of Drug Abuse," that every effort will be made by the sheriff to combat this health crisis. As a member of our group, you must continue to aid the Sheriff's office by demanding thorough, effective measures to protect the public safety.You must expect the deputies to be honest and accountable to the community. And, you must depend upon these enforcement officers to insure the public peace. The best way to do so is to help them do the best job possible.