Miami County Sheriff Charles Cox’s decision to retire at the end of his current term opened the door for a Republican primary that features four candidates March 15.
Those seeking the job are Chris Anderson, retired Troy police captain; Steve Cooper, retired sheriff’s office captain; Dave Duchak, current chief deputy; and Paul Reece, a former deputy in Miami and Montgomery counties.
The winner of the primary would face Joe Mahan, a former chief deputy who filed as an independent candidate, in the November general election.
Name: Chris Anderson
Age: 53
Occupation: Retired captain, Troy Police Department
Previous political experience: None
Education: Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, Police Executive Leadership College, FBI National Academy
Family: Wife Karen, three children, six grandchildren.
Chris Anderson said the sheriff’s office needs changes only an outsider can make.
“Having worked in a law enforcement agency for 31 years who had dealings with the sheriff’s office regularly, I am uniquely qualified to understand what reputation the office has among the many law enforcement agencies who have come into contact with the sheriff’s office,” he said.
“My training and knowledge allows me to look at the entire department with an unbiased view of what has worked and what needs changed. I believe I am the only candidate who has an outsider’s view and the experience to make the changes that are real and positive that will protect all of the citizens of Miami County,” he said.
Anderson, whose lives in Monroe Township, said an overhaul of the command administration is needed along with a culture change within the department.
Among top issues the office faces are the heroin epidemic, which has affected many families in the county. He will work to establish a more productive relationship with narcotic task forces in the county and beyond to help shut down accessibility Anderson said.
“As sheriff, we will work closely with the courts, probation, Recovery Council & Tri-County Board of Mental Health to help those that are fighting the battle with opioid and heroin abuse. This problem does not have a quick fix. I am dedicated to fighting this fight on every level,” he said.
Anderson said he’d replace a “good ole boy system” of management with a set of policies and procedures that are best practical and legally defensible.
“These policies will include our hiring process, career advancement and promotion. This change will immediately improve the morale in the office and give the dedicated staff direction and a chance for career improvement,” Anderson said.
If money is available, he said he would like to bring in an employee to keep track of the businesses end of the office such as the sheriff’s sales and seeking grants. Someone other than an officer, he said, might better manage these tasks.
He’s also planning to seek accreditation for the department. Anderson worked on the Troy Police Department accreditation process and served as an accreditation assessor across the country.
“An accredited law enforcement agency maintains the highest standards and continually updates its policies and procedures using a “best practices” approach established throughout the United States. Under my administration the Miami County Sheriff’s office will become accredited without increasing the operating budget for the office,” he said.
In 1997, Anderson faced a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence involving an alleged encounter with a girlfriend. He entered an “ informal diversion program” in 1998 in which he was to attend and complete an alcohol/drug evaluation and complete any recommended follow up, according to court documents. The visiting judge who approved an agreed entry with those stipulations said charges would be dismissed if Anderson completed probation, which he did, and charges were dismissed.
“It’s an allegation. It was run through the court system; it was dismissed. There is not much more I can say. People make allegations,” Anderson said noting that he was promoted to captain after the allegations and at times served as acting police chief.
Anderson said he thinks his training and work with agencies including the FBI, the Secret Service and the DEA as well as other agencies will benefit the department and community. “I don’t know the answer to everything, but I know the people to call that do and that is a big ego swallowing thing for some people,” Anderson said.
Name: Steve Cooper
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired captain Miami County Sheriff’s Office
Previous political experience: None
Education: Criminal Law, Photography, at Edison State, 1000’s of hours of training/ education at Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, and the Ohio Highway Patrol Academy.
Family: Wife, Mary Ann, one son.
Steve Cooper said he’s running for sheriff because there are issues within the office that need to be looked at, and changes made.
He said he always loved his job as a deputy, and had been encouraged to run in the past. With the sheriff’s retirement at year’s end, “I think now is the time,” said Cooper, a Tipp City resident.
“As a candidate for sheriff I bring a lot to the table. I have a lot of knowledge, 37 years in law enforcement. I have done everything ever asked of me by the sheriff’s office. I have thousands of hours of school. I am the only candidate that can say I ever ran a jail and know the inner workings of the jail,” he said. “I have never been accused of or done anything wrong. I bring a lot of stability, honesty, ethics.”
Among top issues Cooper said the office faces is the need for transparency. “This administration has always been secretive towards the public and even its employees. I would keep the public and the employees informed of what’s going on inside the sheriff’s office, unless doing so would endanger someone’s safety or allow a criminal to get knowledge that would prevent his or her capture. I would always be willing to meet with a citizen who has a genuine concern or complaint.”
Cooper said treatment of employees and, in turn, morale also are concerns. “I would listen to employee concerns and complaints rather than just shuck it off as an employee with a bad attitude,” he said.
“I don’t micromanage people. I tell them, ‘Do your job and we will get along just fine.’ I think that helps bring morale up. Talking with people about their concerns and doing your best to address whatever concerns they have creates a good working environment,” he said, adding, however, “You aren’t going to make everyone happy, no way.”
Another concern is the heroin epidemic. “I don’t know the answer. Heroin is a cheap drug. If people don’t see what it does to you personally and what it does to you physically, I really don’t know what law enforcement is gong to be able to do,” he said. “But we would do what it can to put a stop to it as much as we can. Education is big. Families have to be pat of it. Law enforcement can’t do it all. The public has to help.”
Cooper has been critical of the other Republican candidates, criticizing Duchak’s handling of issues in the sheriff’s office while Cox was recovering from medical issues, including allegations of possible mishandling of sheriff’s deed. A special prosecutor found no misconduct but Cooper said he didn’t agree with how the investigation was handled.
If elected, Cooper said he would like to bring back programs discontinued by the office that past few years such as a Citizens Police Academy. “The police academy, I think will help with public trust, at least they can see the inner workings of the sheriff’s office … and the pressure under which these men and women are working,” he said.
He’d also like to explore a citizens review panel to possibly review complaints against the department and give their opinion on how a situation was handled.
Name: Dave Duchak
Age: 51
Occupation: Chief Deputy Miami County Sheriff’s Office
Previous political experience: None
Education: 3.5 years at University of Dayton, numerous law enforcement schools
Family: Wife Sheri, daughter and son
Dave Duchak said he has dedicated 29 years of service to law enforcement in the county and wants “ to continue the tradition of excellence in law enforcement services that Sheriff Cox brought to the office.”
Duchak said he “thoroughly enjoys working in law enforcement and serving my fellow residents and feel I still have much to offer. I have been blessed to work in one of the finest sheriff’s offices in the state and with some of the finest men and women in law enforcement.”
The top issues facing the department, he said, are the heroin “scourge,” providing adequate jail space and keeping up with technology and the costs to acquire and maintain it.
“The top issue bar none is the heroin scourge. We, in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, are practicing stringent enforcement efforts on all fronts to fight this epidemic. That alone is not going to be enough. We are not going to arrest our way out of this problem,” Duchak said.
The office has partnered with the Tri-County Board of Mental Health on an assessment for heroin/opiate addicts in the jail who would benefit from medication while in jail and after release, he said. It also is part of a recently formed heroin coalition that will work “to address this problem as a community and hopefully bring more assets and ideas to the table to fight this very serious public health problem,” he said.
The jail space issue is not new but has been impacted by the growing number of female offenders attributed to heroin. The office worked with commissioners, Duchak said, and is preparing to open a third pod at the Incarceration Facility. “We are hopeful that with the opening of the 3rdpod we will have adequate jail space for the next several years barring the state from burdening counties with the housing of any more felony offenders as they did a few years ago,” he said.
When it comes to technology, he said he would continue to pursue grants to help offset costs of technology, equipment and extra traffic enforcement.
“The sheriff’s office is currently on the cutting edge when it comes to new technologies that keep operations more efficient and most importantly, residents and staff safer. I will be seeking funding for body cameras and we have already started the evaluation process of what is on the market,” Duchak said. “There is much research and development going on with respect to body camera technology and there is a strong likelihood that state and/or federal dollars will open up soon to assist with funding.”
Duchak said claims by other candidates that the sheriff’s office has been secretive, that morale is poor and there is a “good old boy” network are unfounded. He said the investigation of allegations of possible mishandling of sheriff’s deeds was conducted last year and concluded without findings. “I have never been the subject of any criminal or internal investigation so I don’t know what he (candidate Steve Cooper) was referring to,” he said. “We are transparent. My question is if he ever read the (special prosecutor) investigation.”
Duchak said he is thoroughly committed to public safety in a fiscally responsible manner and continuing to keep the crime rate low and residents safe. “Miami County is a very safe county to live and raise a family and continued excellence in professional law enforcement services will keep it that way. The continued partnership with the community is invaluable, for without that partnership a law enforcement agency is ineffective,” he said.
Name: Paul Reece
Age: 49
Occupation: Special Agent and Chief Warrant Officer (Commissioned) Army Criminal Investigations Division Command, U.S. Army Reserves Commander, 375thCriminal Investigation Division, Columbus.
Previous political experience: None
Education: Bachelor’s degree organizational management, Bluffton University
Family: Married, six children, 10 grandchildren.
Paul Reece said he’s been encouraged to run for sheriff for the past several years.
“The common thread has been the belief that my values, and my experience working in both rural and metropolitan law enforcement agencies, along with my military law enforcement background and education have uniquely equipped me to lead the Sheriff’s Office in serving and protecting the citizens of Miami County,” he said.
Among the top issues Reece said are facing the office are a public perception of lack of credibility, closed jail along with inadequate maintenance and staffing and low morale within the organization.
Reece, a Piqua resident, said the top issues facing the office include jails, public perception of lack of credibility and low morale.
“The entire agency will be held to a high standard of conduct. Ongoing training in ethics and effective communication will raise the bar. Internal investigations of wrongdoing that results in a serious breach of public trust will be made public. Under my leadership, the Sheriff’s Office will regain the confidence and respect of those we serve,” he said.
Area law enforcement is hampered by a lack of jail beds, meaning some who should be jailed aren’t, Reece said.
“Steps will be taken to ensure that both jails are properly maintained, properly staffed and operational at the maximum level of use. Long-term capital improvement projectswill be reviewed and revised, as needed. Rational long-term and short-term plans for implementing the necessary repairs and upgrades will be submitted to the county commissioners for their review and funding decision,” he said.
To improve morale, Reece said he would survey employees about what the agency is doing right and wrong and what has to change.
“The survey is a part of a positive and comprehensive plan for professional development, team building and family involvement that will be presented to all employees in January of 2017,” he said.
Reece said he also would focus on individuals, encouraging top priorities of family and safety.
“I feel very strongly about taking care of your people … I want to get them off egg shells,” he said. “Is there going to be changes. Yes, there will be changes, but those changes will be for the operational success of the agency and not punitive.”
Reece is no stranger to the department, previously serving as a Miami County sheriff’s deputy. He most recently was a deputy in Montgomery County, but resigned Dec. 4 after 10 years so he could run for sheriff here. By law, classified employees cannot run for a political office, he explained.
Reece received a letter of reprimand last year for failing to submit a leave request time when he testified by subpoena in federal court in what was a family matter. He described the situation as a “paperwork error” and differences in opinion in how the time should be reported. He subsequently took vacation/comp time for period he was in court.
He said he is trying to focus on the positive in the campaign. “I want to take care of two groups that are important. As sheriff, I serve the people that work for me. On the other side, I also serve the citizens,” he said. “Nowhere in that equation does any of these groups serve me. That is the way it is in the military, the way it is a professional organization. This is not a kingdom.”
