Derek Myers, Editor-in-chief
Fayette County Sheriff Vernon P. Stanforth, right, was sworn into his fifth term in office by Fayette County Common Plea Court Judge Steven Beathard on Monday. Stanforth's grandson, Caleb Bowers, 6, held the Holy Bible during the ceremony. ADVOCATE PHOTO/DEREK MYERS
Fayette County Sheriff Vernon P. Stanforth was sworn into his fifth term in office on Monday in the Fayette County Common Pleas Court.
Stanforth, 56, won re-election as Fayette County’s Sheriff after winning by a landslide in a March 2012 primary election against an opponent. Stanforth garnered 74% of the vote. No democrat or independent candidate filed to run in the November 2012 general election and therefore, Stanforth, a republican, was re-elected to his fifth term in office.
Stanforth stood before Fayette County Common Pleas Court Judge Steven Beathard at 1 p.m. Monday and took his oath of office. Shortly thereafter, his deputies were administered their oath of office.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges and opportunities facing Fayette County in the coming term,” Stanforth told Fayette Advocate on Monday.
“We continually strive to provide the best law enforcement for the people we serve. Technology has grown tremendously over the past 16 years, since I was first sworn into my first term. Technology will continue to rapidly evolve and the Sheriff’s office works diligently to maintain an efficient operation with a balance between technology demands and fiscal accountability.”
Stanforth has been married to his wife, Joy for 34 years. They have two children, David Stanforth and Kristy (Nathan) Bowers. They have one grandchild named Caleb and are guardian to Charles Cadamy.
It was Caleb, 6, who held the Holy Bible during Stanforth’s swearing in ceremony in the Fayette County Common Pleas Court.
Stanforth is a lifelong resident of Fayette County where he has served 34 years as a devoted full-time public servant.
He is a Miami Trace High School graduate, attended Morehead State University and completed Criminal Justice courses at the University of Louisville.
Stanforth attended training and graduated from the FBI National Academy, National Sheriff’s Institute Executive Development, National Corrections Institute, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and is a Certified Law Enforcement Manager.
Deputies with the Fayette County Sheriff's office were sworn into office on Monday by Fayette County Common Pleas Court Judge Steven Beathard. ADVOCATE PHOTO/DEREK MYERS
He previously worked for the City of Washington Court House as a Comprehensive Employment and Training Act Administrator, Assistant Building Inspector and in the City Police Department as a dispatcher, patrolman and jail administrator for many years.
In 1997, the residents of Fayette County elected Stanforth to serve as their Sheriff. He has served in that capacity since.
In 2000, he was appointed to the Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Commission (OPOTA) by Governor Bob Taft. In 2005, Stanforth was seleted to be the Chairman of OPOTA – a position he continues to fill eight years later; he’s longest serving OPOTA Chairman in the State’s history.
Stanforth belongs to many local, state, and federal organizations. He has served as chairman on the Fayette County Life Squad Board of Directors; he is past President of the Washington Court House Jaycees, Washington Court House Kiwanis and the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association.
In 2006, he had the distinct honor of serving as the Chairman for the Ohio Homeland Security Advisory Council.
“As Chairman, I oversaw the State’s budget for Homeland Security funds for all Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMS agencies,” he said.
He served under two Ohio Governors and ended his term as Chairman in 2011; he still remains on the council.
He has been a member of a host of other organizations such as the Fayette County Farm Bureau, Ohio Townships Association, Ohio Jail Advisory Committee, and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police.
Stanforth has served on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Advisory Council for the mid-western states of the United States of America. This role allowed him to not only serve and protect Fayette County and Ohio but many other county and states, too.
As Sheriff of Fayette County, Stanforth has received many citations and awards such as the Life Time Distinguished Service Award from the Ohio Crime Prevention Association, the Distinguished Service Award from the Ohio Concern of Police Survivors, the Gold Star Award from the Department of Corrections and Adult Parole Authority, the Exemplary Service to Victims of Crime Award, the AAA Community Safety Award and the National Child Safety Council Award.
In 2011, he received the Citizen’s Service Award from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
Stanforth has made a lot of changes to the Sheriff’s office since being sworn into office in 1997.
According to Stanforth, he has computerized the entire Sheriff’s office, established a community website to assist the public with information from the Sheriff’s office, and modernized the Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD).
He has upgraded the E-911 system to identify cellular phone locations and 911 mapping technology such as “Pictometry” which allows dispatchers to view 5 dimensional aerial photography of all structures in Fayette County.
Stanforth had implemented the National Incident Based Reporting System, in car laptop computers, in car video cameras, and in car AED heart defibrillators for the many Sheriff patrol cars.
“Along with equipping the cars with speeding radar devices, spike strips, and RAP-ID — an on-scene electronic fingerprinting identification system — I’ve implemented a bicycle patrol, K-9 unit, a D.A.R.E. program and have provided all patrol and jail personnel with bullet proof vests,” Stanforth said.
He has developed the STAR (Sheriff’s Tactically Armed Response) team for search warrants, drug raids and cell extractions.
He has upgraded TDD (deaf communication system) into the internal dispatch system and created the Sheriff’s Annex building to consolidate and provide a better work environment for patrol and criminal investigations.
Stanforth has created an intoxilyzer test site in cooperation with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, provided an on site office for the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I), upgraded the mobile command trailer, expanded and modernized the jail booking and holding areas and has controlled jail food services to provide adequate, nutritious, and cost effective meals for inmates incarcerated inside the Fayette County Jail.
Among those accomplishments, Stanforth has participated in the regional deployment of communication vehicles made available during critical incidents, actively worked towards the passage and implementation of Ohio’s Adam Walsh Act, and has developed a model policy and procedure manual through the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association.
In 2008, Stanforth made goals for the future which included exploring less than lethal weapon technology, enhancing radio and communication technology for interoperability with public service agencies, utilizing new technology and modernizing the communication center, enhancing the firearm and training facility for deputies, and exploring non violent housing and sentencing for offenders; by the end of 2011, all of those goals had been met.
“The 1894 jail remains the greatest challenge. The jail staff works daily to meet and maintain a safe environment for persons incarcerated. We have a no frill facility and yet meet the minimum standards set for full service jail facilities,” he said.