Gov. John Kasich has referred to the feud between branches of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and County Sheriff’s Offices as the “Hatfield and McCoys,” according to an article in the Columbus Dispatch.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case in Athens, where local law enforcement believes its relationship with the state agency is far better than what is going on elsewhere.
The reported feud between some sheriffs offices and highway patrol stems from some sheriffs believing the highway patrol is performing duties — and receiving money — that should be theirs, according to The Dispatch report.
Others fear the patrol, despite its denials, aspires to be a state police force that has statewide jurisdiction.
The monetary issues are creeping into Athens County
as well.
For example, the Athens County Sheriff’s Office received $24,990.51 in fiscal year 2013 in traffic grants from the state. In comparison, the 59 branches of the Ohio State Highway Patrol split more than $4.2 million between them, more than $71,352 on average per post. That’s almost three times as much as Sheriff Pat Kelly’s office received.
Though he said he could not speak for other jurisdictions and their relationship with the highway patrol, Lt. Aaron Maynard said Kelly’s office has always worked well with the Athens post.
“Our dependence on each other for support when requested is clear and unwavering,” Maynard said in an email to The Post. “We also have a shared concern for the citizens of Athens County and we have long standing professional and personal relationships with each other.”
Officers from the highway patrol and the sheriff’s office often encounter each other on public roads where the units’ jurisdiction crosses, said Lt. George Harlow of the highway patrol’s Athens post.
“I think that Athens County is unique in how our agencies do work together. We have working relationships with the sheriff’s office, APD and OUPD,” Harlow said. “We work closely whenever the need arises.”
The entities occasionally work together on traffic stops that involve suspicion of narcotics, Harlow said.
“Sometimes, when a highway patrol K-9 is not available, they will often step up and provide their K-9 for our traffic stops,” Harlow said. “The same is true in the other respect, if we have a dog in the area and they have a dog, we certainly don’t hesitate to respond when they need us to.”
Maynard added the units feed off each other to create deterrence to those breaking the law on county roads and highways.
“Whether it is a need for assistance pursuant to an accident investigation or backup for a domestic violence call, we are available to each other 24/7 to respond for assistance under any circumstance,” Maynard said.
Asked about the two law enforcement units’ budgets, Maynard said that is a discussion for others to have.
Similarly, Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle said his department has a very good working relationship with the highway patrol.
“Of course, jurisdiction is always an issue with police agencies because of the legal aspect,” Pyle said. “But there are times when our jurisdictions overlap and we work through those kinds of issues because ultimately, we are providing many of the same services.”
He added the historic dissention between sheriff’s and the state highway patrol stems from jurisdictional issues, as well as the potential movement in the background for the highway patrol to become
state police.
“If that were to happen, there would certainly be perceived conflicts between sheriffs and state patrol,” Pyle said. “And so I think that is the background of that disagreement.”
@AKarl_Smith
as299810@ohiou.edu
