Crish will unify law enforcement

I have had a professional relationship with Sam Crish over the course of many years. I have found him to be professional and sincere in his law enforcement motives. Sam and I worked on issues that would create a joint and cohesive relationship between the WCOCTF (West-Central Ohio Crime Task Force) and the Lima Police Department PACE. unit. These were the same issues Lima Police Chief Garlock had presented to the Task Force Board on previous occasions; however, they were rejected by the Sheriff Dan Beck and his board.

The offer was this: PACE is located in a city-owned, decentralized, facility which would mean the county would have no expense for maintenance and/or upkeep. The City of Lima (authorized by Mayor Berger) renovated this facility to accommodate PACE and other law-enforcement agencies as well as creating facilities to be used for on-site law enforcement training. Also, PACE works closely with the FBI, ATF, U.S. Secret Service, BCI&I and the drug task forces in Columbus and Toledo. They also have ties with officers in the Detroit police department and the Fort Wayne, Ind. police department.

If this merger would have taken place, the WCOTF & PACE. would have become one unit to work in a cohesive manner addressing the drugs and violence that occur in Lima and Allen County. In my personal opinion, when Sam Crish is elected sheriff, I believe Allen County residents will see a merger of some form take place. This is merely a synopsis of the many conversations we had, but depicts the cooperation that Crish is willing to provide the LPD and other surrounding law enforcement agencies. I did not have the same rapport with his opponent.

James R. Thorburn is a retired major of the Lima Police Department.