Van Treuren Spends Shift With Lorain County Sheriff Deputies, Corrections Officers; Vows To Fight For Sheriff’s Office
February 12, 2012
Lorain County Commissioner candidate Phil Van Treuren spent eight hours on Saturday night with corrections officers at the Lorain County Jail and on the road for a ride-along with Lorain County Sheriff deputies.
Van Treuren, who called the experience “eye-opening,” said that he wanted to see first-hand what kind of challenges Lorain County Sheriff’s office employees face and the resources they have.
“The men and women in the Sheriff’s office do an amazing job with very limited resources,” Van Treuren said. “It was an honor to see both the corrections division and the law enforcement division at work.”
Van Treuren’s shift with the Sheriff’s office started with a four-hour tour and observation session at the Lorain County Jail. He said that the important work done by corrections officers is “often overlooked” by the the public, and that the jail staff was disciplined, professional and dedicated.
Van Treuren also had a four-hour ride-along with a Lorain County Sheriff’s deputy.
“I knew that the deputies had hundreds of square miles patrol every day, but you don’t really realize what a monumental task that is until you ride along with them for a shift,” he said. “The Sheriff’s deputies regularly face dangerous situations to keep our residents safe, knowing that backup might not be available for long periods of time.”
Van Treuren pledged that he would do everything possible as commissioner to make sure that Sheriff’s office employees have the resources they need to do their jobs.
“One of the most important functions of government is keeping our residents safe,” he said. “These men and women fill that role without complaint, and I’m committed to fighting for them.”
Van Treuren said that he would continue making regular visits to the corrections and law enforcement divisions of the Sheriff’s office as commissioner.
“I would ask permission to spend shifts with them several times a year to make sure that they have the resources they need,” Van Treuren said. “If you’re making funding decisions for these hard-working men and women, then you had darn well better know what challenges they are facing.”