Ciriello Hosts Campaign Kickoff Event At Tippy Creek Winery
December 1, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
Boasting a resume that includes stints as a Syracuse Police chief, Indiana State fire marshal, a sheriff’s deputy, a DARE officer and his current job – county coroner – the Republican candidate told supporters Thursday he is intent on using his experience to bring change to the department.
While not directly criticizing the sheriff’s department, many of his proposals suggest change is needed.
“I want to bring professionalism back into the community,” Ciriello said Thursday night during a 14-minute pitch before a crowded collection of friends and supporters at the Tippy Creek Winery east of Leesburg.
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“We want to bring the sheriff back to the people of the community,” he said.
Ciriello is one of four who have announced campaign plans to run for sheriff in what is expected to be a wide-open Republican race in 2018. Others include Kyle Dukes, an Indiana State Police trooper; Chris Rager, a Kosciusko County deputy; and Sheriff Rocky Goshert, who was chosen this summer to replace Aaron Rovenstine when he resigned after being convicted of intimidation.
While some candidates – especially during a Republican caucus in which Goshert emerged the winner – have pointed to the scandal that enveloped Rovenstine and others as a reason for change in the department, Ciriello said he would rather focus on the future.
One of the issues that surfaced during the scandal was an apparent rift between the sheriff’s department and Warsaw Police Department.
He said he believes cooperation between the county and other agencies is “pretty darn good.”
He said he sees those relations in his role as coroner, which brings him in touch with all police departments in the county in the course of death investigations.
“Nobody goes in there with an attitude. Nobody goes in there, (saying) ‘My badge is bigger than yours.’ We go in there as a team to make sure we go in there and do it right,” he said.
However, Ciriello outlined a long list of ideas he would bring to the department. Among 11 proposals touted in his campaign brochure are:
• Create a monthly law enforcement leadership breakfast to facilitate the sharing of information.
• Delegate an administrative officer to work with the Kosciusko County Firemen’s Association to help ensure the highest levels of collaboration.
• Host a first responders meeting at least three times a year to address various issues.
• Host quarterly “Sheriff’s Night Out” meetings across the county as a way for the public to share concerns and input.
• Establish a team of community and business leaders to address the opioid epidemic similar to what was done with the Meth Watch Program.
He pointed out two aspects of his work as police chief in Syracuse – an open door policy with the public and his own willingness to work far more than a 40-hour work week. He said he often worked an average of 70 hours a week.
He said he believes the sheriff should be willing to work extra hours and work alongside deputies when winter storms strike.
He said he would like to see the DARE program expanded so that eighth-grade students have a chance to visit the county justice building, learn more about what police do and hear about inmates who are jailed over drug crimes.
“That little bit of education in the eighth grade is gonna make a difference in that kid when they’re a senior in high school or junior in college.”
He also pledged to continue the battle on opioids.
He said the opioid problem is a “community problem” that ultimately should include families making the tough decision to turn in a family member to police.
“If you turn them in, maybe they go to jail, maybe they go to rehab, but you know there isn’t a death certificate with their name on it,” he said.
Ciriello said choosing to run for sheriff was a tough call because he knew it would leave his family vulnerable to personal attacks. He told the crowd that his own family has dealt with substance abuse and that, ultimately, the family chose to turn in a family member.
“It’s the hardest decision to make, but folks, that’s what we need to do in our community to battle this problem as a whole and make it go away.”
Boasting a resume that includes stints as a Syracuse Police chief, Indiana State fire marshal, a sheriff’s deputy, a DARE officer and his current job – county coroner – the Republican candidate told supporters Thursday he is intent on using his experience to bring change to the department.
While not directly criticizing the sheriff’s department, many of his proposals suggest change is needed.
“I want to bring professionalism back into the community,” Ciriello said Thursday night during a 14-minute pitch before a crowded collection of friends and supporters at the Tippy Creek Winery east of Leesburg.
[[In-content Ad]]
“We want to bring the sheriff back to the people of the community,” he said.
Ciriello is one of four who have announced campaign plans to run for sheriff in what is expected to be a wide-open Republican race in 2018. Others include Kyle Dukes, an Indiana State Police trooper; Chris Rager, a Kosciusko County deputy; and Sheriff Rocky Goshert, who was chosen this summer to replace Aaron Rovenstine when he resigned after being convicted of intimidation.
While some candidates – especially during a Republican caucus in which Goshert emerged the winner – have pointed to the scandal that enveloped Rovenstine and others as a reason for change in the department, Ciriello said he would rather focus on the future.
One of the issues that surfaced during the scandal was an apparent rift between the sheriff’s department and Warsaw Police Department.
He said he believes cooperation between the county and other agencies is “pretty darn good.”
He said he sees those relations in his role as coroner, which brings him in touch with all police departments in the county in the course of death investigations.
“Nobody goes in there with an attitude. Nobody goes in there, (saying) ‘My badge is bigger than yours.’ We go in there as a team to make sure we go in there and do it right,” he said.
However, Ciriello outlined a long list of ideas he would bring to the department. Among 11 proposals touted in his campaign brochure are:
• Create a monthly law enforcement leadership breakfast to facilitate the sharing of information.
• Delegate an administrative officer to work with the Kosciusko County Firemen’s Association to help ensure the highest levels of collaboration.
• Host a first responders meeting at least three times a year to address various issues.
• Host quarterly “Sheriff’s Night Out” meetings across the county as a way for the public to share concerns and input.
• Establish a team of community and business leaders to address the opioid epidemic similar to what was done with the Meth Watch Program.
He pointed out two aspects of his work as police chief in Syracuse – an open door policy with the public and his own willingness to work far more than a 40-hour work week. He said he often worked an average of 70 hours a week.
He said he believes the sheriff should be willing to work extra hours and work alongside deputies when winter storms strike.
He said he would like to see the DARE program expanded so that eighth-grade students have a chance to visit the county justice building, learn more about what police do and hear about inmates who are jailed over drug crimes.
“That little bit of education in the eighth grade is gonna make a difference in that kid when they’re a senior in high school or junior in college.”
He also pledged to continue the battle on opioids.
He said the opioid problem is a “community problem” that ultimately should include families making the tough decision to turn in a family member to police.
“If you turn them in, maybe they go to jail, maybe they go to rehab, but you know there isn’t a death certificate with their name on it,” he said.
Ciriello said choosing to run for sheriff was a tough call because he knew it would leave his family vulnerable to personal attacks. He told the crowd that his own family has dealt with substance abuse and that, ultimately, the family chose to turn in a family member.
“It’s the hardest decision to make, but folks, that’s what we need to do in our community to battle this problem as a whole and make it go away.”
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