Operations
The Operations Division is responsible for providing basic police services and consists of three basic bureaus, uniformed patrol, investigations, and communications.
Uniformed Patrol Unit
- The uniformed patrol unit consists of fifty-nine deputies.
- The fifty-nine deputies consist of a Lieutenant and the Operations Major.
- Through a policing contract there are twenty two deputies assigned to Plain Township, three deputies assigned to Lexington Township.
- There are one and a half deputies assigned as Domestic Violence investigators with the salaries provided by a VAWA grant.
- One deputy assigned to DD to investigate abuse cases at all DD locations, paid for by DD.
- One deputy assigned to Child Support Enforcement to serve warrants on delinquent non-custodial parents, paid for by Job and Family Services.
- One deputy assigned as a Child Sexual Abuse investigator.
- Thirteen deputies assigned as school resource officers.
- Two deputies to enforce litter control and manage our scales for over loads in the county paid for through a grant from the Waste District.
- Two deputies are assigned for civil process throughout the county from the general budget.
The Patrol Division is made up of the most visible members of the Stark County Sheriff’s Office. They are first to respond to any situation requiring police involvement and are responsible for providing primary services. These services may include the collection of information and evidence, the rendering of first aid and basic life support. The Patrol Operations is on duty twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year.
The Patrol Division accomplishes its mission through daily shift reports, proactive police work, conducting criminal investigations, supporting other law enforcement agencies, community outreach and compassionate response to people who are in crisis. Through business contacts, visiting with neighborhood associations, and a heavy visible presence, the Deputies have a real pulse on activities in our community. We strive to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life for all citizens who live, work and visit Stark County.
The men and women who serve in this unit provide daily police service to 170,000 people out of Stark County's 378,098 population. Officers assigned to patrol are state certified peace officers and are trained in first aid, human relations, patrol techniques and procedures, domestic violence, demented persons, firearms, alcohol and drug abuse, juvenile offenses, traffic control and accident investigations. The functions of the road patrol result in deputies patrolling more than 1,000,000 miles each year.
Currently, the patrol unit also provides additional law enforcement services to Plain Township and Lexington Township in the form of policing contracts which allows additional deputies to patrol exclusively within those areas.
Deputies also transport prisoners to and from court hearings, prisons and other medical and special appointments.
Deputies provide direct law enforcement services to thirteen of Stark County's seventeen townships, and often are called upon to assist smaller village and township police departments. Deputies work hand in hand with township firefighters and paramedics at accident and fire scenes.
The Stark County Sheriff's Office, in partnership with the Stark County Crime Watch Program, attend community crime watch meetings and provide information to assist crime watch participants with their program. The Stark County Sheriff's Office also participates in the Safe and Sober, ABC Buckle Up, National Drunk Drivers and the National Child Safety Programs throughout the year. The Stark County Sheriff's Office also participates in some local community programs, such as the Stark County Railroad Task Force, Domestic Violence Council, Berlin Lake Safety Council, Stark County Traffic Safety Program, Ohio School Board Association - School Violence Prevention and the Stark County Arson Task Force.Communication technicians and deputies assigned to the radio - communications unit answer and dispatch calls for the Hartville Police Department. Radio communications are also available with the FBI, Secret Service, Crime Lab, Parole, Probation, Coroner, ODNR, and Stark County Parks.
Investigations Unit
Deputy Sheriff's conduct investigations into all criminal violations including homicide, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, rape, arson, child abuse, stolen vehicles, missing persons, narcotics, felonious assaults, telephone harassment, and all other related offenses. Deputies are assigned to follow-up on investigations for the above listed criminal violations.
The Chief Deputy and the Captain are notified of all death investigations conducted by the Stark county Sheriff's Office. Deputies can be assigned to respond to investigations twenty-four hours a day by the Chief Deputy or the Major.Deputies work closely with the three different municipal prosecutors and courts, as well as the county prosecutor and court. Deputies apply for arrest and search warrants in these courts and testify in court at hearings and trials.
The Sheriff's Office serves arrest warrants issued out of Alliance, Canton, Massillon Municipal Courts, and the Stark County Common Pleas Court. Indictments and capiases' from the Stark County Common Pleas Court are also served by deputies, along with county and state warrants. Extradition's from out of state are handled through the Sheriff's Office and all travel and pick-up arrangements are prepared for the return of the wanted subject.Deputies prepare photo line-ups for their investigations and if required, prepare and assist other law enforcement agencies with line-ups.
Deputies' conduct monthly countywide intelligence meetings at the Stark County Safety Building where case investigation information is shared with other federal, state, county, city and local law enforcement officers. Also, parole and probation officers attend these meetingsRecords are maintained in a fully automated computer center that also houses millions of criminal and traffic records collected by deputiesThrough a policing contract with the Board of Plain Township Trustees, an Investigator was assigned exclusively to Plain Township.
The clerks assigned to investigations process all the warrants received from the Alliance, Canton, Massillon Municipal Courts, the Stark County Common Pleas Court, the Stark County Family Court, State Parole and Probation Departments and all out of county and state warrants received by the Stark County Sheriff's Office.
These individuals type reports dictated by the Major and file all incoming reports. The clerks were also responsible for mailing out all sex offender notifications.
Property And Evidence
Processing of property is an integral part of the Stark County Sheriff's Office operations and ensures the proper safeguards of evidence, stolen, found and personal property. The property section is designed to handle all recovered property and evidence coming into the Sheriff's Office possession. All incoming property is computer bar coded and entered into a computer system which becomes a permanent record of data.
The major areas of responsibility for this position are to receive and ensure the safekeeping of property and evidence turned in by Sheriff's Office personnel. Preparation of documents is required ensuring proper record keeping and storage of property or evidence. Releasing evidence and property to the crime lab, courts, prosecutors, and rightful owners, as legally permitted. The property officer completes state reports and oversees the destruction of property and evidence, when required, and maintains records of confiscated property.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
The DARE Program curriculum is taught by a deputy to students in grades K-12. Students receive a nine week curriculum. The classroom sessions are taught by a uniformed deputy, certified to teach DARE. These sessions are coupled with suggested activities taught by the student’s regular classroom teacher.
The DARE curriculum includes many life skill lessons such as self-esteem, preventing violence, risk taking, decision making skills, how to deal with stress without relying on drugs, and how to avoid pressure to join a gang.
The DARE curriculum includes many life skill lessons to assist the students in making better life choices, as well as teaching them that there are consequences to their choices.
The high school DARE curriculum reinforces the middle school DARE curriculum and addresses the driving laws and drug laws to include the effect of drugs have on a person, as well as educates students on the harmful effects of over the counter and prescription drugs (OTC/RX).
A wide range of instructional strategies are utilized by the officer such as question and answer, cooperative learning groups, group discussion, role playing, and workbook exercises.
Cops In Schools
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office has had the Cops In Schools program since 1999. 17 Deputies are assigned as School Resource Officers to the following districts; Canton Local, Plain Local, Lake Local, Marlington Local, Tuslaw Local, Massillon City, and the RG Drage Career Center.
Deputies work closely with school administration to create a safer learning environment, and build positive relationships with students and staff. Deputies act as role models to students and are also involved in dispute resolution, intervention, problem solving, and truancy problems.
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office takes a proactive approach to identifying a potential school safety issue before an incident occurs, rather than being reactive after the incident has already happened.
Carry Concealed Weapon Permit
In April of 2004 the State of Ohio passed a law permitting citizens to carry a concealed weapon. Background checks are completed on all individuals applying for concealed weapon permits. Permits are issued to individuals that are eligible to receive them.
Violence Against Women Act
Through grant funding, the Stark County Sheriff's Office assigns two deputies to further investigate incidents of domestic violence. The assigned deputies collaborate with prosecutors, victim advocates, court personnel, judicial, probation, parole, social services, children services, adult protective services and medical providers to ensure that victims of family based violence receive all appropriate assistance in their time of need.