Warren County sheriff reports staffing gains, outlines drug task force activity and budget risks
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Summary
Sheriff Riley told the county commissioners his office has hired 32 people since taking office, deployed new equipment and canines, and that the county's multi-jurisdictional drug task force remains active against fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking; he warned state millage cuts could force reductions to nonstatutory services.
Sheriff Derek Riley updated the Warren County Board of Commissioners on staffing, operations and drug enforcement activity during a presentation at a county commissioners meeting.
"I'm proud to say...we've hired 32 people since taking office," Riley said, describing hires across patrol, corrections and court services and six memoranda of understanding negotiated with the sheriff's union to adjust duties and create internal advancement. He said the office has started using Axon body-worn cameras for road patrol and purchased two jail canines using commissary proceeds.
Riley and Steve Arismith, commander of the Warren County Drug Task Force, described the task force as a multi-jurisdictional unit focused largely on supply lines from Dayton and Cincinnati. "We range between 17 and 20 full-time personnel," Arismith said, and he described regular operations and raids outside the county intended to disrupt sources of supply. Both said fentanyl and methamphetamine are the county's dominant drug threats.
Riley cited service-call data showing 50% of calls for service originate in Deerfield Township and that Turtle Creek Township accounts for about 13% of calls; by comparison, South Lebanon accounted for about 11% but the city contracts for five deputies. He singled out the Racino and a large truck-stop (Flying J at the I-71 interchange) as frequent locations for thefts, overdoses and lockouts.
Speakers described enforcement challenges involving flavored THC and hash products sold in retail vape shops. Riley and Arismith said those products are packaged to resemble harmless items and can test variably in crime labs; investigators use undercover purchases and lab analysis to build cases. Riley said some product sources include out-of-state manufacturers and international shipments.
Commissioners and Riley discussed the potential fiscal impact of pending state legislation that could limit property tax millage revenue. Commissioner Jones raised the question of what county law enforcement is statutorily required to provide if millage revenues drop, noting that some services the county currently funds'such as the drug task force and enhanced road patrol'are not statutory mandates. Riley listed the jail and court services as statutory obligations. "If you struck our budget by 20% ... I'm required to run that jail. I'm required to run those courts, period," Riley said, adding that detectives and the drug task force would likely be reduced in such a scenario.
Riley also announced internal promotions, naming Nick Marconi and Brian Payne as newly promoted captains and introducing them to the commissioners.
Why it matters: The presentation combined operational updates'new hires, equipment and canine purchases'with a caution about possible state-level tax changes that could force cuts to nonstatutory public-safety programs. Commissioners asked for follow-up, including quantitative figures showing what cuts would mean for services and what local partners might be asked to share.
Riley and the task force invited continuing coordination with the commissioners and other local governments to sustain multi-agency drug enforcement and other shared services.
