Comments on the March 19 primary election for Highland County sheriff

To the editor:

My name is Dan Croy, and I simply can't sit back any longer and remain silent about some of the things I've been reading on social media, as well as The Highland County Press, concerning the Republican primary race for Highland County sheriff. 

I've been a law enforcement officer in Highland County since 1989. I've dedicated my life to this profession for nearly 35 years. I retired from the Highland County Sheriff's Office in October 2018. I currently work in Highland County as a school resource officer. I do have a candidate who I believe is worthy of holding the honor as your next Highland County sheriff. I'll get to that shortly.

During the last few months, actually starting in September 2023 during the Highland County Fair, I have been asked numerous questions about my feelings concerning this race. I've simply been honest and straightforward with those who have asked. I tell them I have worked with both candidates and only one of them will sit in that office with the utmost integrity and trustworthy character and will never purposely mislead the voters of Highland County.

I recently read an article in The Highland County Press by one of the candidates who, in my opinion, was extremely misleading to the taxpayers and voters of Highland County. In this article, the candidate claims that he is a "lifetime Republican;" however, that's misleading to the voters of Highland County.

If we Republicans remember in 2008, this candidate filed as an Independent so he could run against longtime Republican Sheriff Ron Ward. Republicans didn't fall for this in 2008. Why should we Republicans fall for the misleading information in 2024?

This candidate states that he created what he calls "School Checks Detail." I work for a school district in Highland County, and I haven't seen a deputy parked outside the school in the parking lot in the past five years, unless I have called them to help me. He may have created this program, but it's never been implemented.

This candidate states that "Our deputies have been performing school searches with K9s, (drug-sniffing dogs), in high schools to keep our school environment safe." This simply is not true. The Highland County Sheriff's Office does not have any K9s, because in 2019, the current administration refused to support the only Highland County sheriff's dog handler we had, so the program was dismantled.

There hasn't been a drug-sniffing K9 at the school I work for since this candidate dismantled the program. Suddenly, the candidate says that having K9s in Highland County is a priority. Maybe this is because Randy Sanders has openly stated that this is an important issue to him and has promised the voters of Highland County that he would start the program back up.

This candidate talks about wanting to implement drug awareness in the schools. My question is why when longtime dedicated D.A.R.E Officer Deputy Bobby Stroop retired in 2017, this candidate discontinued this valuable program for our vulnerable children? The D.A.R.E program should have never been eliminated. Perhaps this candidate has changed his mind in support of it. Maybe this is because Randy Sanders has openly stated that drug education is a very important issue to him and he has promised to bring D.A.R.E along with K9s back into our vulnerable schools.

This candidate talks about currently having around 50 employees at the Highland County Sheriff's Office and that he's responsible for hiring 40 of the 50 employed. You, the taxpayer and the voter, do the math. My math indicates that under this candidate's watch he has lost 80 percent of his employees in the time he has been in office. Wow, no wonder the citizens of Highland County are not familiar with the current deputies. This candidate's supervision and policies have continued to run them off for several years now. It's time for a change.

This candidate states: "I want to expand the Task Force." This is a misleading statement to the taxpayer and voters of Highland County. In 2019 under this candidate's watch, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins went to the Highland County commissioners and requested money for her office to hire someone to investigate the drug epidemic in Highland County. This was because no law enforcement agency was actively or aggressively taking the drug epidemic seriously. The commissioners agreed with Prosecutor Collins and provided her with additional funds to combat this epidemic. The epidemic was so bad that the commissioners actually funded her to hire two investigators by 2021. This candidate is not familiar with the workings of the Highland County Task Force and has never actively worked drug investigations. Maybe he says this now because Randy Sanders has openly promised the taxpayers and voters of Highland County that he will expand the Task Force.

This candidate states: "I just want to continue the continuity and no setbacks for the office." Looking at the numbers I've listed above, it appears he has already interrupted the continuity of the office, as 80 percent of the department has left during his so-called appointed seat. That's not something to be proud of. Additionally, most of the employees at the Sheriff's Office are union-protected so their jobs are safe, no matter who the sheriff is. As chief deputy, he should know this.

This candidate takes credit for video court telling taxpayers about how much money it saves and how it is more secure for the community. However, Judge Rocky A. Coss implemented video court in March 2009, during the six years that this candidate did not work at the Highland County Sheriff's Office.

When I'm asked why I support Randy Sanders for Highland County sheriff, I tell you, the taxpayers and voters of Highland County, it's because he will not purposely mislead the voters of Highland County. He will perform the duties required of him as Highland County sheriff, showing the utmost integrity and trustworthiness, while being completely transparent to you, the taxpayers and voters of Highland County, Ohio.

Sincerely,
Dan Croy
Retired Detective Sergeant and
Longtime Law Enforcement Officer