CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — In Ross County, concerns are mounting from citizens over the sluggish response times of the Sheriff’s Office, prompting a closer examination of the challenges facing the department and its impact on public safety. Conversations with members of the community have revealed a widespread perception that the agency’s ability to promptly address emergencies is lacking.
One of the primary issues cited by both residents and deputies themselves is the scarcity of law enforcement personnel patrolling the expansive county. It’s reported that on any given day, only three to four deputies may be tasked with covering one of the largest geographical areas in the state. This shortage has led to delays in response to a variety of critical incidents, ranging from medical emergencies to criminal activities.
A review of recent police reports obtained by the Guardian sheds light on the problem. From deceased individuals to incidents involving serious injuries and criminal offenses, the data reveals alarming response times:
- 21 minutes for a found body
- 16 minutes for a serious gunshot wound
- 12 minutes for an overdose
- 22 minutes for a disorderly conduct
- 38 minutes for a stolen gun
- 32 minutes for theft from a business
- 15 minutes for a serious crash
- 24 minutes for a road rage incident involving a gun
- 20 minutes for a domestic dispute with a firearm involved
- 56 minutes for a possible water rescue
- 15 minutes for a person lost in the woods
- 2 hours for theft from an elderly person, who was subsequently abandoned alone
- 29 minutes for a burglary
- 26 minutes for a reported rape
These delays in emergency response have raised numerous concerns among elderly residents regarding public safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement services in the county. The Guardian spoke with an 83-year-old county resident named Gloria, who worries about the lack of deputies on patrol. “During the summer, people just drag race up and down my road. You never see a deputy,” she said. “One of these days, someone is going to wreck and crash into my house.”
Ross County Sheriff George Lavender has faced mounting criticism regarding response times. Since last year, the sheriff’s office has taken some measures aimed at improving operational efficiency within the department. In June of 2023, an upgrade to the county’s 911 system was introduced to streamline communication and response protocols. Additionally, in March of the same year, the entire patrol division was relocated to the campus of Adena Regional Medical Center. Sheriff Lavender cited the move as a strategic decision to optimize using the adjacent highways and enhance coordination among patrol staff, particularly in responding to calls within the city limits of Chillicothe and surrounding areas.
Lavender also began assigning drug investigations to the Special Investigative Unit. The Sheriff’s Office said, “It is our intent to have all of these investigated by SIU to free up patrol to find more drugs, and possibly allow SIU to develop more leads and get more drugs out of the community.”
Despite these initiatives, concerns persist among residents and within the department regarding the adequacy of staffing levels and response capabilities. The discrepancy between administrative efforts to improve service quality and the persistent challenges faced on the ground underscores the complexity of the issues at hand.
As calls for accountability and reform echo throughout the county, the sheriff’s office faces mounting pressure to address the root causes of its operational shortcomings.