A nation is in mourning today after losing a pillar of law enforcement.
Retired Pickaway County Sheriff Dwight E. Radcliff passed away Wednesday morning after going into hospice car earlier this week.
Radcliff has the record of being the nation’s longest serving elected Sheriff, after being elected in Pickaway County to serve in 1966 until his retirement in 2013.
As the 37th Sheriff of Pickaway County , he was the longest-serving sheriff in the United States having served 12 consecutive terms; 48 years. He is a second-generation sheriff having served as a deputy sheriff for his father for nearly eight years. His career totals 55 ½ years in law enforcement.
His son, Robert B. Radcliff, succeeded him as Sheriff, marking the third generation Radcliff to hold the top cop job.
Throughout his career, Sheriff Radcliff helped to advance the Office of Sheriff and law enforcement as past president of the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association (1975); he was past president of the National Sheriffs’ Association (1987-1988) and held all offices in the Association and served on the Uniform Crime Reporting Committee, Budget and Audit Committee, and the Management Sub Committee; he has served on numerous task forces for the Ohio Attorney General; many Governors of Ohio appointed and reappointed him to various committees, including the Law Enforcement Automated Data System Steering Committee, Ohio Law Enforcement Emergency Radio Network, Ohio Criminal Justice Supervisory Commission; Ohio Sheriffs’ Uniform and Car Marking Commission; the Ohio State Emergency Response Commission; and the Ohio Organized Crime Committee; among many others.
He received numerous awards and recognition including the NSA Executive Director’s Award and the J. Stannard Baker Award (National Sheriffs’ Association); the President’s Award (Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association); he was chosen as Ohio Sheriff of the Year in 1975 by the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association; he was recognized by the Ohio State Veterans of Foreign Wars as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year; and countless others.
He is a 1950 graduate of Circleville High School; a 1954 graduate of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation Law Enforcement Academy; a 1967 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (79th Session); and a 1981 graduate and president of class of the National Sheriffs’ Institute.
The family is currently making funeral arrangements and more information will be forthcoming.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine released a statement on Wednesday.
“Fran and I have lost a dear friend. I first met former pickawaysheriff Dwight Radcliff when I was running for Congress in 1982. We hit it off because of my background as a county prosecutor – even then he was a legend in law enforcement! He combined his skills as a people person with the drive and skills of an experienced lawman. That combination served the people of Pickaway County and the people of Ohio for 48 years. After he left the Sheriff’s office when I was Attorney General, I asked him to be my liaison with law enforcement around the state. His people skills and law enforcement savvy served us so very well.”
The Pickaway County Commissioners have ordered flags in the county to be flown at half-staff.