2007 State Court Officer of the Year
Mr. Gregory A. Sims, Chief Deputy Bailiff, of the Cleveland Municipal
Court was named as the 2007 State Court Officer of the Year at a recent awards
ceremony held on April 18, 2008 in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Sims was selected
as the state winner over other regional winners.
Chief Deputy Bailiff Sims is described as a loyal, dedicated, team player and
ideal supervisor. He is always willing to accept a new challenge and gives 110%
no matter what the assignment. He is described as conscientious, passionate,
and enthusiastic employee who leads by example. Mr. Sims has an exceptional
positive attituted. He is a dedicated employee committed to doin the best possible
job. He is optimistic and well liked by everyone.
2007 Outstanding Service Award
Bailiff James Cochran of the Fairfield Municipal Court receives the first ever Outstanding Service Award by an officer of the court from President Bill Schmidt. Bailiff Cochran was attacked by a defendant in the courtroom who was trying to get his weapon. Due to his presence of mind, training and ability he was able to retain his weapon and control the situation and possibly saving the lives of the judge and people in the courtroom.
2007 Justice Stratton Award
Sam Cichino of the Ohio Supreme Court, Office of Court Security, receives the annual Justice Lundberg Stratton Award from President Bill Schmidt for his outstanding efforts to promote court security in all Ohio courts Sam has dedicated his entire career to his country and protecting the courts.
2006 State Court Officer of the Year
Hamilton County woman named State Court Officer of the Year for
2006.
Melinda Klenk, of the Hamilton County Juvenile Court, was named as the State
Court Officer of the Year for 2006 after winning the Regional Court Officer
of the Year Award for Region E of the Ohio Bailiffs and Court Officers Association.
With this nomination, she was in competition with court officers from 11 counties
in southwestern Ohio, which included Butler, Hamilton, Warren, Clermont, Clinton,
Brown, Highland, Adams, Ross, Pike, and Scioto. Fellow court officer Bill Schmidt,
from the same court, nominated Mrs. Klenk.
In his nomination of Mrs. Klenk, Mr. Schmidt stated, "Melinda had over 30 years
of outstanding service to the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. Her knowledge
of the Court and its functions is unsurpassed. She has risen to the position
of Executive Director of Case Management through her amazing work ethic and
diligence in performing her job. She is one of the hardest working employees
I have had the pleasure of knowing in my 35 years of service to Hamilton County."
Mrs. Klenk's duties include supervision of the Clerk's Office, Records Room,
Dependency, Child Support, Delinquency Case Management, Security Department,
Unofficial Court Cases, and Volunteer Magistrate Program.
She is always at her job hours before the official workday begins and continues
long after the Court closes to go above and beyond her assigned duties. She
was instrumental in computerization of the Court and helped to make the Hamilton
County Juvenile Court a model court throughout the United States.
Melinda has held several positions in the Court and has always worked as a team player for the Court and the County. She has the ability to not only supervise over 75 employees, but to work with all other departments in the Court, County, and other agencies throughout Ohio and the country.
2006 Justice Stratton Award
The Ohio Bailiffs and Court Officers Association presented the Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton Award to Howard E. Shearer at its annual fall conference in Columbus. The Award was established in recognition of Justice Stratton's leadership and inspiration in developing a solid foundation for an efficient and effective court security system in Ohio courts and her selfless commitment of time and energy to achieve this purpose. The award is presented annually to the individual or entity that exemplifies Justice Stratton's commitment and leadership to achieving security in Ohio's Court System.
Mr. Shearer was recognized for his commitment and leadership over the last fourteen years. Mr. Shearer while serving as the Court Administrator/Chief of Security of the Delaware Municipal Court achieved certification for the Delaware Court Security Division from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agency's, Inc., Fairfax, VA for compliance with seventy-six internationally recognized standards for court security. The Security Division was the first in the State and nation to achieve this award. Mr. Shearer served on the Supreme Court Security Advisory Committee for eight years and as its co-chair for two years. He developed the Supreme Courts Security Operation Manual Guide for all courts, has developed and taught training programs for the Supreme Court, the Ohio Judicial College, other courts and the Association.
Roger Landis, Executive Director of the Association, who presented the award, stated, "Howard exemplifies our motto of Maximizing Excellence."
Justice Stratton, who was unable to attend, wrote "Congratulations on being named 2006's recipient of the Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton Award! It is well deserved and a wonderful honor for you. Your many years of hard work and dedication in the field of security in Ohio courts, as well as your leadership, will be hard to surpass. You have given many years of dedicated service to the Supreme Court Committee on Court Security and have been an inspiration to many to strive for the best in security in a professional and ethical manner. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you because of this dedication and professionalism."
Mr. Shearer has over forty-six years of public service promoting safety to the citizens of Ohio having served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for thirty-two years before retiring at which time he was the Commander of the Planning and Analysis Section. He is a 1955 graduate of Salem Senior High School, achieved a BS degree from Youngstown State University in 1971 and an MA degree from The Ohio State University in 1974. He continues to serve as a private consultant and as a team leader and assessor for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. conducting on-site assessments of agency's seeking accreditation or reaccreditation across the United States and Canada.
2005 State Court Officer of the Year
Perry County woman named State Court Officer of the Year for 2005.
Debbie Nelson of New Straitsville, Ohio, an employee of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas was recently named as the State winner after winning as a Region Court Officer of the Year. Mrs. Nelson, Court Administrator, was nominated by Judge Linton Lewis for Court Officer of the Year in Region D of the Ohio Bailiffs and Court Officers Association. With this nomination she was in competition with court employees from fifteen central ohio counties which included Marion, Union, Pickaway, Franklin, Delaware, Morrow, Knox, Licking, Fairfield, Perry, Muskingum, Coshocton, Holmes, Tuscarawas, and Guernsey county.
Judge Lewis stated in his nomination of Mrs. Nelson that she handles every aspect of Court operations very smoothly everday. He stated that she works well with all people and helped Judge Lewis to reduce cases pending by keeping an accelerated schedule going in the Court. He also stated that any Court across the State would be extremely fortunate to have a Court Administrator like Mrs. Debbie Nelson.
Debbie lives in New Straitsville with her husband Randy Nelson, Sr. She has a married son and two grandchildren.
On April 8, 2006 at the Ohio Bailiffs & Court Officers Association Conference
and Awards Banquet, Debbie received her Region Winner Award plaque. After the
winners of the seven Regions were recognized, Debbie was called upon again to
come forward with Judge Lewis to receive the State Court Officer of the Year
Award for 2005, being selected over the other Regional winners.
Special Recognition Award
Joy Preuss, retired Program Manger with the Ohio Judicial College, was presented a special recognition award in appreciation of her commitment to educating and training court personnel, especially her efforts in the area of court security.
2005 Justice Stratton Award
Colonel Paul McCllelan, Superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, accepts the Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton Award. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was selected to receive this award for 2005 for their continued support to the Ohio Bailiffs & Court Court Officers Association through the use of their training academy as a meeting place and furnishing highly qualified instructors.
Outstanding Instructor Award
Sergeant Toby Smith, of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, received an Outstanding Instructor Award for his dedication to teach safety to the Ohio Bailiffs & Court Officers Association over the past three years.
Congratulations to Jenny Andrews, Brown County Municipal Court Bailiff, for being selected as the State Court Officer of the Year for 2004.
Brown County Municipal Court Bailiff Jenny A. Andrews was honored by her peers by being selected as the State of Ohio Court Officer of the Year Award awarded by the Ohio Bailiffs and Court Officers Association, an Affiliate of The International Association of Court Officers and Services, Inc. Judge Thomas F. Zachman nominated Bailiff Andrews for this prestigious state wide award. To be chosen as State of Ohio Court Officer of the Year Award one had to be chosen as a Regional Winner and nominee for the State of Ohio Court Officer of the Year Award. Brown County Municipal Court Bailiff Jenny A. Andrews was the Region E. Award winner which consists of the following counties: Butler, Hamilton, Warren, Clermont, Clinton, Brown, Highland, Adams, Ross, Pike and Scioto.
Summing up the application for the Court Officer of the Year, Judge Zachman wrote “Bailiff Andrews is the quintessential bailiff for the twenty first century. Resourceful, adaptive, and responsive to changing conditions and expectations, she is a key component to the success of the Brown County Municipal Court as an effective and efficient court. She exhibits an aurora of professionalism and competence that are the hallmarks of her office and a credit to her professional community.”
President Tom Chidester of the Ohio Bailiffs and Court Officers Association presented the gold and black engraved plaque to Bailiff Andrews which read: “For Her Outstanding Technical Knowledge, Ability, Positive Mental Attitude, Loyalty, Leadership, Professionalism, Willingness to Assist others, And Progressive Approach To The Performance of Infinite Duties With The Brown County Municipal Court. Given This 9th Day of April 2005.
Bailiff Andrews is the sixth State Court Officer of the Year Award Winner and the first female to receive the award.
The Ohio Bailiffs and Court Officers Association honored all regional winners at the Spring Conference at Richfield Ohio and announced the State Court Officer of the Year at that time. In attendance at the conference was Mr. Sam Cicchino, Security Service Manager for the Ohio Supreme Court, Conference Host Judge Deborah J. Nicastro, Association officers and members as well as past regional and state winners. Accompanying Bailiff Andrews and representing Brown County at the Sixth Annual Court Officer of the Year Awards Dinner was Judge and Mrs. Thomas F. Zachman, and Mr. Mike Hensley Otis.
Justice Stratton Award
Sheriff Neil Hassinger, of Medina County, received the first annual Justice Stratton Award. This award is given annually to a person that has given much time and great effort to training of court personnel and to court security. Sheriff Hassinger was the first sheriff in Ohio to use dogs as a security tool to accomplish court security.
Sheriff Hassinger was awarded the first such award not only for this action and accomplishments but also due to extending his resources to help train bailiffs and court officers.
Sheriff Hassinger retired from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and is now completing his second term as the Medina County Sheriff.
Congratulations to LeRoy Felver, Celina Municipal Court Bailiff in Mercer County for being selected as the State Court Officer of the Year for 2003.
Celina Municipal Court Bailiff, LeRoy Felver, has been selected as the state winner of the Court Officer of the Year Award for 2003. Bailiff Felver was selected over other Regional Court Officers of the Year to be the top winner. He was selected because of his positive attitude. He is quick witted and gets along with all other court employees. Bailiff Felver handles over 8,000 cases in his courtroom per year as the sole bailiff and security officer. Bailiff Felver is a retired Chief of Police who continues to work with the public in the court. LeRoy was nominated in Region F by both Celina Municipal Court Judge James J. Scheer and the Clerk of Courts.
CONGRATULATIONS TO SGT. MICHAEL B. MCELROY, BAILIFF OF THE HOLMES COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT FOR BEING SELECTED AS THE STATE COURT OFFICER OF THE YEAR 2002.
Holmes County Common Pleas Bailiff, Sgt. Michael B. McElroy, has been selected as the Court Officer of the Year for 2002. McElroy is a Sergeant with the Holmes County Sheriff's Department assisgned to court duty. He was selected over the other District winners. He was selected because of his courtroom abilities to handle all types of situations. He volunteers for community services and always goes out of his way to help others. he goes the extra mile to make sure the court is safe and operating properly. Sgt. McElroy was nominated by Barbara McClelland, Holmes County Common Pleas Clerk of Court.
Congratulations to Carl Meding, Medina Municipal Court Bailiff. Mr. Meding was awarded Court Officer of the Year for 2001.
Medina Municipal Court Bailiff Carl Meding has been selected court officer of the year 2001. Meding, who retired from the Brunswick Police Department after 25 years, provides security andtracks down scofflaws for one of the state's busiest municipal courts. He began working part time for the court in 1987. He has worked for the court full time since May 2000. Fellow bailiff William Saus, who nominated Meding, praised his background in criminal justice, which includes a bachelor's degree in urban studies from Cleveland State University.
Congratulations to Casey Linebrink, District A Director. Mr. Linebrink was awarded Court Officer of the Year for 2000.
Casey A. Linebrink, Probation Officer/Deputy Bailiff, of the Defiance Municipal Court, was selected as the 2000 Court Officer of the Year. He was the Region A court Officer of the Year and was nominated by Jedge John T. Rohrs, III. His immediate supervisor, Sam Rhodes, described Casey best when he said; "...this is not just a job to him, it is a profession and he is a professional." Casey graduated magna cum laude from Defiance College in 1996 with a major in criminal justice. He worked in the Special Needs Unit of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas Adult Probation Department before joining the Defiance Municipal Court in 1997. President Dick Bowdler and Marshal Smith presented Mr. Linebrink with a plaque and he will also receive $200 to attend a training program of his choice.
