NEWS

Early this morning as I started my day and drank my first cup of coffee I saw the images of death from Dallas. I read the report of twelve police officers ambushed and shot, five officers killed! All of this happened during a peaceful march against police shootings in the past week. The police officers in Dallas were walking with the marchers, sharing water and making sure that they were safe. As the march was about to conclude, snipers from hidden positions on top of buildings shot down on unsuspecting police officers.

This morning one of my first phone calls was from our local President of the NAACP, Ms. Denise Williams. She expressed genuine care and concern. She wanted me to let the members of the Clark County Sheriff's Office know that the members of the Local NAACP support them and pray for their safety.

The news media has asked me to comment on the tragic and deadly ambush in Dallas. I feel that I should write down my thoughts and convey them this way instead of giving the media a 30 second sound byte.

Last week I was summoned to the White House in Washington DC along with other Law Enforcement leaders from across the nation. Also attending from our area was Chief Erik Wilson of Trotwood, Ohio and Chief Bruce Jamison from Piqua, Ohio. We were there to talk about the Executive Order of the President of the United States, Barack Obama, who on December 18,2014 ordered a group of law enforcement professionals to come together to identify the best way to provide an effective partnership between law enforcement and local communities that reduces crime and increases trust. The task force then generated 59 recommendations with 92 action items in the form of a report to the President. The report was completed and published in May of 2015.

This was the first group assembled to come to the White House and have round table discussions about the report, what is working and what still needs to be done. I felt very good about what The Clark County, Ohio Sheriff's Office has done in the last year and during 2016. We have trained more, improved our selection process, better equipped our deputies and engaged the community more. As we reviewed the next step, our office needs to engage, by social media, at every level with the community. My plan is to implement more and improve social media connections in the next 30 days. We have started an Explorer Program for young people with an interest in a law enforcement career. We have had a Cadet Program for several years and this has greatly helped us select our newest deputy sheriff's. We can and we shall do more to attract minorities and other groups to become members of the Sheriff's Office.

As I reflect on what I have watched and seen in Dallas, and know from my work in the area of law enforcement relations, the Dallas Police Department is a model of community engagement. These acts in Dallas were a coordinated ambush and assassination of police officers. All of this causes me to remember January 1,2011 when Deputy Suzanne Hopper, investigating a report of shots fired, was ambushed and assassinated. She always wore her ballistic vest, but was shot in the head. Officer Jeremy Blum was shot while kneeling beside me during the gun battle that followed. Driving from Enon Beach on January 1, 2011 to Miami Valley Hospital to meet with Suzanne's husband and family was the hardest day of my career. I then had to drive back to Clark County and meet with her parents and children and tell them she would never come home from her tour of duty. My heart and prayers go out to Dallas Police Chief David Brown, having to do one of the hardest things in his career, meeting with the families of the fallen officers and families of the officers who were shot.

Today we need to come together as One Nation under GOD,and as a law enforcement leader more than ever we need to recite our oath and pray for Peace and Understanding.

Sheriff Gene A. Kelly

Clark County, Ohio

www.clarkcountysheriff.com

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