2024 sheriff's report released

TIFFIN — Seneca County Sheriff Fredrick Stevens presented his 2024 annual report to the Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning, highlighting a steady increase in calls for service, continued investment in jail infrastructure and programs and an emphasis on training and accountability. The meeting, rescheduled due to the Juneteenth holiday, gave Stevens a chance to walk commissioners through division-level updates, statistics and progress made over the past year. Stevens began by outlining the scope of the office's duties. "The sheriff is the only elected law enforcement official in Ohio directly accountable to the citizens and voters," he said. He noted the department's jurisdiction covers the entire county and emphasized the Corrections Division's responsibility for the intake, release, safety and medical care of all inmates. The average daily inmate population in 2024 was 86, with an additional 66 daily I.C.E. detainees housed at the Seneca County Jail. Inmates spent an average of 33 days in jail, while detainees averaged 45 days. Each day, staff administered about 1,443 doses of medication and prepared 495 meals. Meal costs increased by roughly 30 cents per inmate over the previous year, a figure Stevens said was due to rising food costs. A state dietician continues to assist in ensuring the jail's meals meet nutritional standards. "Inmates receive three meals a day, seven days a week," Stevens said. Recent jail improvements included updates to the intake area and the replacement of old carpet with ceramic tile in the common areas. Drywall was removed from the upstairs area to improve visibility. "The Seneca County Jail is now 31-years-old," Stevens said. "Still, it continuously receives TLC year after year." The sheriff also highlighted the Enforcement Division, which handles patrol duties and emergency response. In 2024, the department responded to 19,468 calls for service — a significant jump from 5,822 in 2020. "Our crime numbers are down from previous years, which is good, but our calls for service are still up," Stevens said. "Thanks to the recent implementation of additional deputies, we have been able to move to 12-hour shifts and conduct more proactive calls for service." Breakdowns of those calls included: • 1,056 crashes • 640 traffic-related calls • 416 deer-related incidents • 4,050 stops or complaints • 326 school zone issues • 249 road hazards • 26 railroad incidents • 1 aviation incident Stevens said the increase in reported calls is also due in part to changes in reporting practices. The department continues to emphasize de-escalation training and crisis intervention. Stevens said nearly all deputies are now trained in Crisis Intervention Training. Out of 673 arrests in 2024, only 12 resulted in a Response to Aggression report — just under 2%. The Detective Bureau handled 52 new felony-level investigations in 2024. Of those, 27 were closed, and an additional 38 older cases were resolved, bringing the total number of cases closed in 2024 to 65. Twenty-five remain open, ongoing or pending court action. Detectives receive specialized training in a variety of case types, including narcotics, cybercrime, fraud, sexual assault, death investigations and arson. The Communications Division, also part of the Enforcement Division, dispatches 911 calls and provides communication services for 22 fire and EMS departments and three other law enforcement agencies in addition to the sheriff's office. Stevens also highlighted several other initiatives and updates: • A 30-year-old boiler and HVAC system were replaced • Employee training increased to 40 hours per person • The sally port was cleaned and painted with a 200th anniversary badge • Staff participated in community events, including parades, mock crashes and school programs • Grants were secured to offset budget costs • The School Resource Officer program continued at Sentinel Career and Technology Center, with the county's first female SRO set to begin in August Stevens concluded by reflecting on the department's commitment to around-the-clock service. "Weekends, holidays, at night … There are generally always going to be calls for service," he said. "It's a 24/7 thing, and I feel it is important to share with the public what all the sheriff's department not only does for individuals, but for the county as a whole as well." In other news The following resolutions were passed at Tuesday's meeting: • A resolution authorizing the disposal of a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox (Asset 27037) deemed unneeded, obsolete or unfit for use by the Seneca County Prosecutor's Office. • A resolution authorizing the purchase of a 2022 Ford Explorer on behalf of the Prosecutor's Office. • A resolution authorizing annual maintenance assessments on benefited landowners for single-county ditches, as defined under Ohio Revised Code Section 6131.01. The resolution includes approval of proposed maintenance work for 2026 and approval of past maintenance work submitted by the Seneca Conservation District's Ditch Maintenance Department and approved by the county engineer. • A resolution to reduce ditch maintenance assessments pursuant to Section 6137.09 of the Ohio Revised Code. • A resolution entering into a memorandum of understanding with the Sandusky County Coroner on behalf of the Seneca County Coroner. The next regularly scheduled meeting will take place at 10 a.m. on June 26 in the Seneca County Commissioners Office.