Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office
Cuyahoga County Sheriff Logo
Cuyahoga County Sheriff Logo
Sheriff's badge
Sheriff's badge
AbbreviationCCSO
Jurisdictional structure
Jurisdiction of Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department
Size1,246 sq mi (3,230 km2)
Population1,264,817
Legal jurisdictionCuyahoga County
Governing bodyGovernment of Cuyahoga County
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersJustice Center Complex Cleveland, Ohio
Agency executive
  • Harold Pretel, Sheriff
Facilities
Jails2
Website
cuyahogacounty.us/sheriff

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The office provides the county with correctional, civil, and law enforcement services. It is the only Ohio county with an appointed sheriff rather than an elected one.

History

In 1810, Smith Balwin was elected as the first sheriff.[1]

In 1982, press reports indicated indiscipline in the county jail. Organized crime figures were being given special privileges they used to continue their rackets from behind bars.[2]

In 1997, the New York Times reported the FBI claimed a guard at the jail was selling drugs and claimed to be part of a ring of several dozen local officers who protected local drug dealers.[3]

In May 2009, Sheriff Gerald McFaul Sr. resigned in a scandal after press reports that he was accepting cash payments from employees for promotions and other favors. McFaul was later convicted on corruption charges.[2] Due to this scandal, the position of sheriff was made one that county officials appoint.[4] McFaul was replaced by Bob Reid, who was chief of police in Bedford, Ohio. Reid was asked to resign in January 2013.[5]

In 2015, the office established a Use of Deadly Force Investigation Unit to provide a standard, comprehensive, neutral investigative response to use of deadly force incidents. The unit, composed of specially-trained detectives, acts as an independent investigative unit that, when requested, investigates and reviews police use of deadly force incidents for requesting law enforcement entities. In 2015, the UDF team investigated six incidents.

In 2018, eight inmates died while in the county jail, culminating in the resignation of the head of the jail.[4] In 2019, his successor, Eric Ivey, was indicted on charges of tampering with evidence to hide problems at the facility.[6] In April 2019, five jailers were taken into custody by their own department on charges of turning off cameras, restraining and beating people, and other misconduct.[7][8]

In July 2023, Harold Pretel, who had been Deputy Chief for the Cleveland Division of Police, was approved as Sheriff by the Cuyahoga County Council after being appointed by County Executive Chris Ronayne.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Past & Present". Cuyahoga County. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 Puente, Mark (25 May 2009). "Sheriff Gerald McFaul resigns amid questions about cash". Plain Dealer. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  3. ↑ Belluckjan, Pam (22 January 1998). "44 Officers Are Charged After Ohio Sting Operation". New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 Shaw, Courtney (14 November 2018). "Director of Cuyahoga County Corrections resigns". ABC News 5 Cleveland. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Caniglia, John (3 January 2013). "Cuyahoga County Sheriff Bob Reid says he was 'surprised' over resignation". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  6. ↑ Ferrise, Adam (19 April 2019). "Cuyahoga County Jail associate warden to continue making $93,000 salary after indictment, investigations". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  7. ↑ Gallek, Ed (12 April 2019). "I-TEAM VIDEO: Deputies arrest jailers from their own department". Fox 8 Cleveland. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  8. ↑ Ferrise, Adam (6 June 2019). "Video shows Cuyahoga County Jail officer pummel mentally-ill inmate after turning off body camera". Plain Dealer. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  9. ↑ Cuyahoga County Council approves Harold Pretel as new county sheriff - WKYC.com
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