About WCSO
Sheriff Thomas Ballinger
Mission Statement
“At the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, our mission is to defend the rights and well-being of every citizen in our county. We strive to create a safe and secure environment for all by delivering exceptional service with professionalism and integrity. Through community engagement and collaboration, we aim to build trust and work together towards a common goal of public safety. We’re dedicated to upholding this commitment and providing exceptional service to those we serve. “
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office operates from offices in the Wayne County Justice Center, which was constructed in 1977. The Wayne County Justice Center includes a multi-jurisdictional communication center providing radio communications to local law enforcement agencies and fire departments, in addition to specialized services for the hearing impaired community, National Weather Service and Disaster Services Agency.
In August 1989, Wayne County became an enhanced 911 community to better serve its citizens. Every division of the Sheriff’s Office is staffed 24 hours a day.
Corrections
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Jail Administrator (Captain) is appointed by the Sheriff. The Captain oversees the day to day operations of the jail/corrections. The Corrections facility has one lieutenant and four sergeants. The jail houses 120 inmates. The Wayne County Jail is a full-service facility providing clothing, food, medical and mental needs, along with transporting inmates to court hearings and doctor appointments. We house inmates who are arrested on misdemeanor and felony charges. The jail has one sergeant and six correction officers on staff at any given time. The jail has three nurses on staff to distribute medication to the inmates and to take care of all their medical needs. We also have three mental health workers who see inmates and teach classes. We have a jail chaplain that visits inmates on a regular basis. We also provide church services on Wednesdays and Sundays. Visitation for the inmates is handled by video in the lobby of the Justice Center. We have two cooks who, with the help of inmate workers, prepare three meals a day for all the inmates. We also serve warrants and court papers to inmates.
Patrol
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office has multiple divisions that contribute to the operations of the Office as a whole. The Patrol Division is one of them. It is ran by the Patrol Captain that is appointed by the Sheriff. The Sheriff then oversees the Captain and the Division as a whole.
The Patrol Division consists of deputies who patrol the entire county. These deputies respond to calls for service from the public, which include but are not limited to: theft, burglary, fights, civil problems, warrant arrests, mental health incidents, and domestic violence situations. They conduct criminal investigations, enforce traffic laws, and give necessary assistance to the city and village police departments in the county, along with the State Highway Patrol when called upon. The division also oversees the deputies assigned to our school districts, who are called School Resource Officers (SRO). They patrol the schools and are involved with the safety and security of everyday, along with emergency operations planning. Lastly, the Patrol Division oversees special operation assignments such as: Environmental Enforcement, the Drone Program, US Marshal Task Force Deputy, and MEDWAY liaison to name a few.
Detective Bureau
The Detective Bureau is another branch of the Patrol Division. This division is led by a lieutenant, and is usually outfitted with two to three full time detectives. Deputies assigned to the Detective Bureau handle larger cases that involve various types of follow up, such as interviews and field work. Some of this follow up takes a long period of time and has many moving parts. Detectives are experienced and generally have more training in investigating and interview techniques than a regular patrol deputy. Detectives are called upon after the initial intake of an incident.
Court Security / Transport
Transport and Common Pleas court security is staffed with one sergeant and eight deputies. Security and transport coordinate well with each other to get inmates to and from their assigned court dates for felony offenses, juvenile court, and domestic relations.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office has the duty and privilege to staff the security at the Wayne County Common Pleas Courthouse. These deputies are trained to protect the staff, judges, and public throughout the court. Deputies will greet you at the door for a security checkpoint and sit in the courtroom or roam the halls to help maintain peace.
Transport deputies handle all inmates to be transported from the jail to the court, hospital, and doctor appointments. Transport also handles warrant transports from other counties to our jail, extraditions from out of state, and prison conveyances throughout Ohio.
