Meet the Sheriff
Sheriff Mincks is a lifelong resident of Washington County and has over forty years of law enforcement experience including more than twenty years as a supervisor. His employment experience includes serving as an Air Force Intelligence Analyst during the Vietnam War, an Ohio State Trooper, a Special Agent and a Supervisory Special Agent with the U.S. Treasury Department, the Coordinator of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, United States Attorney’s Office Wheeling, WV and Chief Deputy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Marietta College with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, is a Certified Fraud Examiner, and is trained as a forensic accountant.
The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county.
His primary duties include:
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Providing common pleas court services and corrections on a countywide basis
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Full police services to the unincorporated areas of the county and incorporated areas without police protection.
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Maintaining full police jurisdiction in all municipalities, townships, and villages.
In an effort to become consistent on a statewide level, Ohio Sheriffs and Deputies wear a standardized uniform, and all patrol vehicles are marked in the same manner.
Our Vision
DEPARTMENT GOALS
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To provide professional service consistent with high ethical standards, statutory obligation and community needs.
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To maintain cost-effective utilization of human resources.
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To maintain cost-effective utilization of facilities, equipment and consumables.
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To continuously improve our level of service to the public and the other elements of the Criminal Justice System.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Sheriff’s Office is a multi-dimensional organization guided by numerous legislated roles and community needs.
The mission of the Sheriff’s Office is to deliver exceptional public safety services to the public and to enhance the criminal justice system.
The ultimate goal is to prevent unlawful activity and bring individuals to justice who have committed unlawful acts.
We also provide a safe, healthful, humane detention facility to support the activity of the local courts and promote public safety.
History of the Office
The word “sheriff” derives from a contraction of the term “shire reeve” which are old Old English words. Shire Reeve means an official who kept the peace in the countryside.
THE FIRST SHERIFF
The first criminal court was established in Washington County by one of the first men to arrive in the area. He was also the first Sheriff of Washington County.
Col. Ebenezer Sproat had made an impression on everyone, including the local Indians who nicknamed him, “Big Buckeye”. Some people believe this is where the nickname “Buckeyes” for Ohioans originated.
Sproat was a distinguished soldier. When Sproat was elected Sheriff, he marched triumphantly up the main thoroughfare on a horse with his sword drawn. He immediately convened the first session of the Court of Common Pleas for Washington County. It was the first court convened in the new Northwest Territory. Court was immediately adjourned as there were no cases to be heard.
THE 1800’s
The second Sheriff, John Clark, served from 1803 until 1810. Clark was Sheriff during Aaron Burr’s expedition.
Clark would later serve subpoenas during the case brought by the Federal Government against Burr. In 1798, Clark began building his family homestead on Fifth Street.
William Skinner served as Sheriff from 1802 to 1803, and later from 1810 to 1812. He was the first sworn Sheriff under the newly written Constitution of the United States of America.
Capt. Alexander Hill, Sheriff from 1814 to 1816, thought to make his life on the sea. Hill loved the water and came to America as a cabinetmaker. He only stopped in Marietta because he ran out of money on his way to New Orleans. He earned his money in Marietta as a cabinetmaker and craftsman, making furniture and coffins.
Jesse Loring, who served one full term and one-half term as Sheriff during the 1820’s and the 1830’s, was the first locally born Sheriff. He was a native of Belpre and died at a young age of 51 in Waterford.
Junia Jennings, was Sheriff from 1846 to 1850. He was a shoemaker by trade, but after leaving the office of Sheriff, the outbreak of the Civil War led him to form the “Silver Greys”, a military organization whose members were 60 years old or older, to protect Washington County families from the confederate rebels.
Many of the early men who served as Sheriff investigated cases ranging from petty theft to murders of spouses and children. Most of them did so with very few deputies under their command. Things have changed since Fort Harmar set aside the stockade and a room for a jail, and the Sheriff’s contract guaranteed him his own horse as part of the job.
The responsibilities remain the same, to protect the citizens of Washington County and prevent crime.
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