Crescent-News.com - Former deputy and incumbent square off in Defiance County sheriff's race

By TODD HELBERG

cnedit@crescent-news.com

They were once on the same law enforcement team, but parted ways 18 months ago under unhappy circumstances. Now, they're candidates for Defiance County sheriff.

Democrat Gary Smiddy, a former sheriff's deputy who was fired in 2007, has given long-time Republican David Westrick his first contested election in 24 years. The winner on Nov. 4 gets a four-year term and will earn a salary of at least $59,537.

"This election is not about Gary Smiddy and it's not about Dave Westrick," said Smiddy, who served two stints as a deputy (1996-2000 and 2002-2007), "but it is about the people of Defiance County and giving them an opportunity to have a choice. In the end it's about the betterment of Defiance County and how the Defiance County Sheriff's Office can be that much more of an effective and efficient agency for Defiance County."

Westrick said he isn't surprised the two are meeting up again.

"The circumstances do not surprise me at all," he said. "After he (Smiddy) left the employ of the sheriff's office, he made it known he was going to attempt to run, and he chose to do that."

Asked if he was bothered by that, Westrick said: "No, anybody has a right to run for public office, and if they are qualified that's the system within we work."

However, it appears the two are more than temporary political rivals.

Smiddy was fired in March 2007 for "conduct unbecoming of an officer," stemming from an alleged domestic incident with his wife and allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a female while on duty. (City law enforcement officials did not file charges after the alleged domestic incident.)

Smiddy denied both allegations during his disciplinary hearing and continues "emphatically" to deny them today. He said Westrick "manipulated the entire situation," making his wife believe "she needed a protection order," which she later filed in common pleas court. "That is absurd," Westrick responded. "You can't do that sort of thing on a whim. That she changed her mind doesn't negate the fact that there was evidence to investigate. A protection order was issued by a court, not by me."

The former deputy added that he didn't contest his firing further because it would have been too costly.

Smiddy's termination followed several other disciplinary measures handed down by Westrick against him. He was given separate one-day suspensions in 2005 and 2006 for insubordination incidents and a 10-day suspension in 2005 for making 111 personal calls on his sheriff-issued cellphone.

Smiddy acknowledges his past, but asks voters to take his word that it won't be repeated.

"People make mistakes whether big or small," he said. "I can say I learned from my mistakes. What is in the past is in the past and I can't do much about that. The voters and readers are going to have to take my word ... . I'm asking for an opportunity to prove myself, that I have the leadership and capabilities. More importantly, I am open to suggestions from the people and (sheriff's office) employees."

At the same time, Smiddy is critical of how Westrick runs his department.

And, he points to an investigation on Oct. 18, 2005 involving Westrick's son, Andrew, an associate deputy, saying it was at the time an incident that "just did not sit right with me."

Smiddy said the sheriff's office should have removed itself from an investigation in which Andrew Westrick reported a break-in and prescription drug theft at his home. But Andrew Westrick later admitted that he had removed the medication from his residence and was addicted to painkilling drugs.

No charges resulted.

"There comes a point in time from a conflict of interest standpoint that not only must you remove yourself as a sheriff, you must remove yourself as a sheriff's office," said Smiddy.

Westrick counters that he did the right thing -- by staying out of the investigation and then disciplining his son with a one-year suspension.

"I never had any input in it at all," said Westrick. "The only thing I was involved in was the discipline."

Despite their respective feelings, this year's election is new territory for both candidates. For Smiddy, he's never run a campaign before while Westrick has not faced opposition since he defeated incumbent Republican Sheriff Doug Ziegler in the 1984 primary. That spans six primaries and six general elections.

The long incumbency has had its advantages.

"With 24 years as sheriff and 34 years in law enforcement, you're bound to cross paths with a lot of people," said Westrick. "That's one of the things that intrigued me about this job -- meeting new people. I've been blessed by the folks to run the sheriff's office for 24 years. I've always felt blessed that they have confidence in me to run their sheriff's office."

Those many years also leave Westrick with a track record which he embraces.

"We oversee the (Multi-Area Narcotics Unit), which has been very successful," he said. "We oversee the 911 center which has received all kinds of honors over the years. I'm very happy with our conviction rate on crimes that we do charge and I think we have a sheriff's office that the majority of people are proud to say is theirs."

Smiddy, however, believes it's time for a change.

"I believe that Mr. Westrick has done a good job up to a certain point," but adds: "at everyone's point in time there is only so much you can do and it's time for a change."

What does he propose to do differently?

"I just have a different approach to help boost morale, giving a stronger voice to the employees at the Defiance County Sheriff's Office and having more of their input implemented in the day-to-day operations," said Smiddy. "I have a different vision, and my philosophy is serving the people. I want to integrate more of the community-oriented policing approach."

To that end, Smiddy said he wants to initiate a volunteer-based program for checking on senior citizens called R U OK. This might assist the elderly in things such as grocery shopping and snow removal, he said.

Too, Smiddy wants to rely more on satellite offices across the county to ensure wider coverage. These offices, utilizing police stations in Sherwood and Hicksville, would give officers a more permanent status in certain zones of the county, he suggests.

Asked if that would require additional manpower, Smiddy said: "It all depends on how things shake down. We would have to reorganize and reprioritize certain areas."

Westrick counters that the sheriff's office already has a regular presence on the county's west-end while deputies can use the Sherwood and Hicksville police stations if they need to.

"We try very, very hard to have an officer on the west end and east end, but to have someone assigned to the Hicksville area all the time is not a good use of manpower," he said. "You need to go where the complaints and calls are. I'm not about to suggest the need for additional manpower. Adding more people when complaints don't call for that would be totally irresponsible."

Smiddy indicates that officers might have to be drawn away from certain areas depending upon where immediate complaints are.

"It would depend on what takes place," he said. "(A deputy) might have to leave his zone to take care of a complaint. The idea is to have that deputy in that zone the entire shift. I think once folks get conditioned to that routine, it's going to create a smoother operation and effective law enforcement."

Westrick also says technology has effectively allowed each sheriff's cruiser to be a mobile station since they can complete paperwork via computer.

"They can pull off along side of the road and do paperwork," Westrick said. "They can handle it from their cars."

Profiles of each candidate follow:

Gary Smiddy

Age, address: 36, 1920 Willow Bay Drive

Education: 1990 graduate, Defiance High School; 1994 graduate Bluffton University; Ohio Peace Office Training Academy; Bowling Green State University

Family: wife, Kristen; three daughters, Elyse, Katie and Audrey; son, Grayson

Occupation: part-time positions with Sauder Woodworking, Oakwood Police Department and Antwerp Police Department

Previous work: Defiance County sheriff's deputy, substitute teacher, juvenile probation officer

Previous elected offices: none

Party affiliation: Democrat

Reasons for seeking office: As your candidate for Defiance County sheriff and a life-long resident of Defiance County, I am well aware of public safety issues we face in today's society. I have an experienced and lengthy commitment to public service, law enforcement and the Defiance County community. As your sheriff, I plan to work with you, to preserve neighborhood and rural expectations of safety, attend to issues with a proactive response and implement cost-effective measures to better utilize our resources.

Tops goals: 1. Utilization of satellite offices: For example, a main office on Biede Avenue for the zone one area of the county, the Ney and/or Sherwood police departments which would cover zone two, the Hicksville Police Department and/or sheriff's office at the county fairgrounds to cover zone three. I believe this strategy will save the agency and county taxpayers in fuel costs and will in turn enable more effective and efficient face-to-face contact between the community and deputies, and allow for better coverage of the entire county.

2. Utilization of community-oriented programs such as (a) R U OK, a volunteer program calling senior citizens to ensure their safety and well-being, (b) Venison Volunteers, a program for the distribution of venison as a result of a motor vehicle kill to the homeless and needy, (c) C.O.P. (Citizens on Patrol), a citizens academy for community awareness, ride-alongs, personal safety instruction and other classes.

3. To be our own self-contained agency that is all inclusive where we utilize our own specialized personnel and our own facilities for all training such as the special response team (building entries and tactics), dive and underwater rescue, mounted horse patrol, ATV patrol, snowmobile patrol, self-defense tactics and firearms retention instructor, firearms instructor, firearms range, bike patrol and motorcycle patrol.

David Westrick

Age, address: 61, 25151 Banner School Road

Education: 1961 graduate, Tinora High School; 1969 graduate, Bowling Green State University; numerous law enforcement schools

Family: wife, Ann; son, Andrew; daughter, Audra

Occupation: Defiance County sheriff since 1985

Previous work: deputy sheriff, adult probation officer

Previous elected offices: sheriff since 1985

Party affiliation: Republican

Reasons for seeking office: I enjoy very much being the sheriff. The last 34 years in law enforcement in Defiance County have been a dream come true. Working with the citizens of Defiance County to solve our problems and differences is an enjoyable challenge which I hope to continue. We have new law enforcement problems to address, including Internet crimes, identity thefts and prescription drug abuse.

Tops goals: 1. Maintain a responsible budget. With the economy getting tighter, county resources will be more limited. We will do everything possible to keep our budget increase less than 3 percent as we have in the past.

2. Computer crimes. The sheriff's office has in place a computer crimes section that includes one of Ohio's most qualified investigators.

3. Scams and elderly protection. Every day a new scam for money surfaces. Maintaining the confidence of those vulnerable to such activities will be of utmost importance to all law enforcement.