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Local News

Friday, October 31, 2008

Officer laid off due to ROC closing
By MARY KATE MALONE

Staff Writer

When Hancock County's Rehabilitation and Opportunity Center closes today, the county's Adult Probation Department will lose an employee who checked on convicted felons living in the community.

Mike Johnston served as surveillance officer for both the ROC, a work-release center, and the probation department, but his position was eliminated with the closure of the ROC.

Johnston spent about one-third of his time working for the probation department, making unannounced evening visits to the 450-500 felons in Hancock County, checking to see if they were following curfew and staying out of trouble.

"People need to know that surveillance is an important component of supervising felony offenders in our community to keep people safe," said Kimberly Switzer, chief probation officer and director of court services. "It could not be more essential."

The sheriff's office and probation department hired Johnston in December 2004. Johnston split his time between the work-release center and the probation department.

Surveillance will now have to be provided by the seven probation officers on staff, Switzer said.

Johnston did not return phone calls Thursday.

Johnston and Jodi Mathias, the ROC's clerk, lost their jobs with the closing of the center. The ROC's director, Tina Driftmyer, was reassigned to the county jail.

The decision to close the ROC was a cost-saving one, Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman said.

The ROC provided those convicted of non-violent misdemeanors or low-level felonies a place to serve their sentences, while keeping their jobs, doing community service or continuing school. "Guests" at the ROC, located in the old county home on Hancock County 140, paid a daily fee to stay there.

Malone: 419-427-8417,

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3 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
city worker wrote:
your dumb
“ The tax base is across the board seems your pretty ignorant of thatthese are all facts
We will see will be contacting the courts in Toledo. Will inform all ”
Monday, November 03, 2008 9:21:01 AM
George wrote:
R.O.C.
“ I thought this article was for the R.O.C. not to aire misinformation as "city worker" has done. Where is the pork in The sheriff's budget? He has far less to work with than most any city departments. As far as retire, rehire, it is a lot less expensive to do this than the city DROP program for safety forces!. These deputies work part time (no wonder they are not there all the time)with far less benefits than "city worker" Golly! they may even work plain clothes detail for all we know.
The jail death, unfortunate. I beleive insurance will pay any settlement, not you the "city worker" the county will be responsible for that.
I think the only cover up is your eyes! you can't see or know the facts of anything mentioned by yourself. The reason for the article is the R.O.C. and it is too bad it had to close, but when budgets are tight they have to cut somewhere and the Sheriff is lean on manpower now.
So concern yourself "city worker" about the city's problems, not those you are ignorant of.

”
Friday, October 31, 2008 8:39:13 PM
city worker wrote:
the $$$$$$$$$$
“ Look at the sheriffs books line by line youll see pork all over,
He lets people retire and rehired at the highest possible wage, his buddies
Whom now dont eve come to work now wearing the uniform, and the jail death lawsuits ???? Where are we with this its are money to be paid out. What are the facts in public money for settlements. The family of the person whom die at the jail,, was there, recently why was this not reported,,,they let her die on the floor
The news paper should be informing us on this matter. its our money. ///oh right we dont have any???????more cover ups. how shameful
 ”
Friday, October 31, 2008 5:49:14 AM
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