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>>> COMING UP ON NEWS NIGHT, WE
SAY HELLO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
AKRON VICE PRESIDENT OF
STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT, AND SAY
GOODBYE TO THE SUMMIT COUNTY
SHERIFF, DREW ALEXANDER.
THAT'S TONIGHT ON NEWS NIGHT.
♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪
>>> WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT FOR
NOVEMBER 16, 2012.
I'M JODY MILLER.
WE'LL WELCOME RETIRING SUMMIT
COUNTY SHERIFF, DREW ALEXANDER.
FIRST, I GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO
INTRODUCE YOU TO THE UNIVERSITY
OF AKRON'S NEW VICE PRESIDENT
OF STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT, JIM
TRESSEL.
IT WAS EARLIER HE WAS INVITED
TO BE PART OF THE STRATEGIC.
UNARGUABLY KNOWN FOR HIS CAREER
AS A FOOTBALL COACH.
BUT HE'S AN EDUCATIONAL COACH.
HE'S COACHING ALL STUDENTS, NOT
JUST STUDENT ATHLETES.
AND HE HAS PROBABLY BECOME THE
UNIVERSITY'S BEST
KNOWNAMBASSADOR.
JIM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
I DIDN'T REALIZE WHEN THE
DOCTOR ASKED ME TO BE PART OF
HIS TEAM, THAT WORKING WITH 29
STUDENTS WAS AS EXHAUSTING AS
WORKING WITH 105.
IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION ONE OF
HIS LEAD STATEMENTS TO ME WAS
THAT FOR SOME REASON IN HIGHER
EDUCATION, WE RATE, OR RANK
PEOPLE BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THEY EXCLUDE AND HOW MUCH WE
CAN CHARGE PEOPLE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON.
WE HAVE A PATHWAY FOR EVERYONE.
WE WANT SUCCESS FOR EVERYONE.
WE WANT THE AKRON EXPERIENCE TO
BE A PART OF EVERYONE, AND
WE'RE REALLY WORKING EXTREMELY
HARD WITH ONE OF THE REALLY
NEWS WORTHY THINGS THAT'S GOING
ON.
THAT'S STUDENT DEBT.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS
TO COME UP WITH INITIATIVES,
AND PATHWAYS, AND THINGS THAT
OUR PEOPLE CAN MOVE TO
COMPLETION AND COMPLETE THEIR
STUDIES WITH AS LITTLE DEBT AS
THEY CAN POSSIBLY HAVE.
RIGHT NOW, STUDENT DEBT IS OVER
$1 TRILLION IN OUR NATION.
WHICH IS MIND BOGGLING.
MORE THAN CREDIT CARD DEBT.
IT'S AN EXCITING THING TO BE A
PART OF, IT'S AN EXHAUSTING
THINK TO BE A PART OF.
I WAS PART OF A SEGMENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY, AND NOW LOOKING
OVER THE ENTIRE SCOPE OF THE
UNIVERSITY, IT'S BEEN A
LEARNING CURVE THAT'S BEEN
AMAZING.
>> I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF
SOURCES, YOU ARE PROBABLY THE
HARDEST WORKING INDIVIDUAL AT
THE UNIVERSITY.
YOU GET IN VERY EARLY IN THE
MORNING, YOU STAY VERY LATE.
YOU ARE ENGAGED, PARTICULARLY
WITH THE STUDENTS.
THE 29,000 STUDENTS.
THAT THAT'S WHAT KEEPS YOU
EXCITED.
I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE WORKING
WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.
I DON'T THINK I COULD BE IN A
POSITION THAT I WASN'T WITH
YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL, SHAPES,
SIZES, GOALS.
WE JUST HAD A STUDENT TRANSFER
DAY, A WEEK AGO.
AND HAD A YOUNG LADY COME IN
WHO HAD BEEN WORKING AT AN
ENGINEERING FIRM.
THE PEOPLE AT THE COMPANY SAID,
YOU REALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO
BE AN ENGINEER.
WE'LL FUND YOU, IF YOU'LL GO TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON TO GO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SHE WAS COMING IN, AND SHE'S
STILL GOING TO BE WORKING HER
40 HOURS, AND TAKING COURSES IN
THE EVENING.
SUCCESS STORIES LIKE THAT, EVEN
THEY DOUGH DON'T MAKE THE FRONT
PAGE LIKE A QUARTERBACK MIGHT
MAKE.
JUST FEELING THE EXCITEMENT,
THE INNOCENCE, THE GRATITUDE OF
STUDENTS.
IT'S JUST, IT'S EXCITING.
>> BUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
HOW DO YOU IN FACT TOUCH THE
LIVES OF EACH OF THOSE STUDENTS
AND NOT ONLY MAKE SURE THEY'RE
IN THE RIGHT MAJOR, LET'S SAY,
BUT WHEN THEY DO GET A DEGREE,
THAT THEY HAVE A JOB?
THAT'S A KEY.
>> YOU SAID IT ALL THERE.
AS I SPENT MY FIRST MONTH,
FOLLOWING DR. PROENS AROUND,
AND HAVING HIM INTRODUCE ME TO
ALL THE FACETS OF THE
INSTITUTION, WE SAT DOWN AND
SAID, OKAY, LET'S CRACK THIS
DIVISION OF STRATEGIC
ENGAGEMENT.
HE DECIDED TO MOVE SOME PARTS
UNDER HIM, AND IT WOULD BE MY
GROUP THAT I WOULD WORK WITH
DAY AND NIGHT.
AND IT BEGINS WITH ADMISSIONS.
GIVING KIDS OPPORTUNITIES, TO
PREPARE THEMSELVES, GET READY
TO GET TO COLLEGE.
FINANCIAL AID, REGISTRAR.
ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT, AND SO
ON.
THEN ONTO THE ADVISING AREA, WE
WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS CODRAY OF
ADVISERS FOR GENERAL STUDENTS,
OR FOR OUR ADVISERS WITHIN OUR
COLLEGES.
OUR CAREER PLACEMENT AREA
HAPPENS TO BE IN OUR DIVISION.
YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD.
I THINK WHAT A PARENT WANTS AND
WHAT A STUDENT WANTS WHEN THEY
COME TO THE UNIVERSITY IS TO
KNOW THAT THIS WORK THEY'RE
PUTTING IN, THIS INVESTMENT
THEY'RE MAKING, WHICH IS
EXPENSIVE, IS GOING TO LEAD TO
A JOB.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER
AREAS LIKE OUR COUNSELING, AND
OUR OFFICE OF ACCESSIBILITY,
AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
EVERYTHING LEADS TO WHATEVER
THE STUDENT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY LEAVE HERE PREPARED
TO COMPETE IN A VERY
COMPETITIVE WORLD.
THIS, WHEN YOU AND I WERE
PROBABLY COMING OUT OF COLLEGE,
THE UNITED STATES KIND OF RAN
THE SHOW FROM A GLOBAL
STANDPOINT.
WE'VE GOT COMPETITION ALL OVER
THE WORLD, AND OUR STUDENTS
HAVE TO BE READY TO COMPETE IN
THAT GLOBAL COMPETITION.
I LOVE COMPETING.
I LOVE SEEING IF WE CAN BE THE
BEST.
THAT'S WHAT DROVE ME EVERY DAY
IN COACHING.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DIVISION
THAT DR. PROENS CREATED, SO
THAT WE CAN TOUCH THOSE
STUDENTS, AND MAKE SURE ALL OF
THOSE THINGS ARE TAKEN CARE OF,
SO THAT THEN THE FACULTY, WITH
THEIR EXPERTISE AND GUIDANCE,
CAN ONLY WORRY GO PREPARING
THOSE STUDENTS FOR READINESS.
>> PART OF YOUR JOB ALSO
INVOLVES REACHING OUT TO
ALUMNI, DOES IT NOT?
AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT IN
THIS WHOLE AKRON EXPERIENCE?
>> THAT'S KIND OF AN UNWRITTEN
PART.
WE THINK OUR ALUMNI ARE THE KEY
TO ALL OF THE PARTS OF OUR
DIVISION.
WE NEED OUR ALUMNI TO HELP US
RECRUIT.
WE NEED OUR ALUMNI TO TALK TO
PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY,
SAYING, THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
PREPARED ME.
I'M WORKING HERE, AND LIVING
HERE, AND ENJOYING THE LIFE
BECAUSE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
AKRON.
WE CALL OUR GROUP OF VOLUNTEER
ALUMS, THE RUE CREW.
SOME OF THEM ARE HELPING IN
ADMISSIONS.
SOME OF THEM ARE HELPING IN
ADVISING, MENTORING, TUTORING,
HELPING FOLKS WRITE RESUMES.
MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE READY TO
INTERVIEW.
THEY'RE ALSO HELPING IN OUR
CAREER PLACEMENT AREA.
HELPING US COME UP WITH
INTERNSHIPS AND COOPS, AND
RELEVANT LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES, AND WE'RE GOING
TO ALUMS AND SAYING, WE NEED
THESE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT
AND SHOW WHAT THEY CAN DO.
WE THINK THEY'LL BE SO GOOD YOU
WILL SAY, WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM
ON OUR TEAM.
OUR ALUMNI, I THINK ARE GOING
TO BE THE KEY OF COMPLETION
MORE QUICKLY.
JOB PLACEMENT RIGHT OFF THE
BAT, AND KEEPING THAT LOAN
DEBT, SO WE'RE NOT AROUND WITH
A LACK OF DIRECTION.
OUR ALUMS CAN SHOW THEM, HERE
IS WHERE IT LEADS.
>> WHEN YOU FIRST CAME BACK TO
THE CAMPUS, WERE YOU SURPRISED
AT HOW IT HAD CHANGED?
>> I HAD ALWAYS BEEN IN
NORTHEAST OHIO RECRUITING.
WHETHER I WAS AT YOUNGSTOWN
STATE OR OHIO STATE.
I HAD BEEN IN AKRON A LOT.
I REALLY HADN'T BEEN ON THE
CAMPUS.
BUT EVERY TIME I WAS IN TOWN,
OR EVERY TIME I WAS TALKING TO
A FELLOW UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
ALUM, THEY WOULD ALSO SAY, YOU
CAN'T BELIEVE THE
TRANSFORMATION THAT HAS
OCCURRED PHYSICALLY.
IT'S MIND BOGGLING.
THE UNIVERSITY, ONE OF THE
PRODDEST THINGS I HAVE ABOUT
THIS UNIVERSITY, THAT I'M NOT
SURE WE TALK ABOUT ENOUGH, IS
THE INVESTMENT THAT THE
UNIVERSITY HAS MADE INTO THE
COMMUNITY.
$650MILLION WORTH OF
CONSTRUCTION.
WHICH IS JOBS, WHICH IS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE.
THE INVESTMENT HAS BEEN
AMAZING.
THE COURAGE THAT DR. PROENZA
OVER TIME, SAYING WE CAN BE
SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY, THAT'S
QUITE AN INVESTMENT INTO A
COMMUNITY.
TO ME, THAT HAS MADE, YOU KNOW
THESE DOWN TOWN STREETS AND SO
FORTH, WHEN I WAS IN GRAD
SCHOOL, THERE WAS NOTHING GOING
ON.
NOW YOU SEE RESTAURANTS AND
THINGS HAPPENING, AND LIGHTS
GOING ON, AND PEOPLE WALKING.
I AM SO PROUD OF WHAT THE
UNIVERSITY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO
THIS SOCIETY.
>> WELL, WE CAN'T NOT TALK
FOOTBALL OBVIOUSLY.
AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO MAY OF
2011.
YOU RESIGNED FROM THE OHIO
STATE UNIVERSITY, DUE TO NCAA
RULES VIOLATIONS.
I WAS CRITICAL OF YOU AT THE
TIME, MANY WERE.
BUT YOU ARE A MAN OF INTEGRITY.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT
THAT LAST SEASON OF COACHING
WAS FOR YOU.
I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS BLACK AND
WHITE.
IS THAT THE KIND OF DILEMMA YOU
FACED AT THAT TIME, JIM?
>> I THINK WHEREVER YOU'RE
WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE,
NOTHING IS EVER BLACK AND
WHITE.
MY LAST YEAR REALLY WASN'T ANY
MORE DIFFICULT THAN THE FIRST
25 AS HEAD COACH.
WHEN WE BROUGHT A YOUNG PERSON
INTO OUR PROGRAM, WE TOLD THE
PATIENTS SITTING IN THE LIVING
ROOM, WE WERE GOING TO PROTECT
THEM, AND TREAT THEM AS IF THEY
WERE OUR OWN.
THAT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY,
ESPECIALLY UNDER THE HUGE
MICROSCOPE AND BRIGHT LIGHTS
UNDER A PLACE LIKE OHIO STATE.
THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ALL OF A
SUDDEN ARE STARS, WE NEVER
REALLY HAD ANY TYPES OF
PROBLEMS OR ISSUES WHEN IT CAME
TO OUR STUDENT ATHLETES, AND
STUDENTS BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE
JUST STUDENTS.
IT WAS THE ADULTS THAT WANTED
TO GET NEAR OUR STUDENT
ATHLETES, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
YOU'VE GOT THE 45-YEAR-OLDS WHO
WANTED TO HANG AROUND THE
TEENAGERS.
IT WAS PROBABLY, oA CONFUSING
THING FOR STUDENTS TO THINK, I
WONDER WHY, YOU KNOW, THESE
PEOPLE WANT TO BE NEXT TO ME,
OR WANT TO DO THINGS FOR ME, OR
WHATEVER.
THAT WAS DIFFICULT FOR 25
YEARS.
I THINK THE POPULARITY OF
SPORT, BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT
TELEVISION COVERAGE, AND THE
MONEY IT GENERATES MADE THOSE
YOUNG KIDS SITUATIONS EVEN MORE
DIFFICULT.
AND THEY'RE 18-YEAR-OLDS,
THEY'RE 19-YEAR-OLDS.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN OUT IN THE
WORLD, AND MIGHT NOT HAVE THE
SENSE AT TIMES TO KNOW THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE
WHO'S JUST TRYING TO BE A NICE
PERSON, OR SOMEONE WHO IS
TRYING TO WIGGLE INTO THEIR
WORLD.
SO I HAVE TO SAY, ALL 25 YEARS
WERE DIFFICULT.
AND AS TIME WENT, BECAUSE OF
THE POPULARITY, I THINK IT
BECAME EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR
COACHES AND FOR STUDENT
ATHLETES.
>> EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES.
EVERYBODY MAKES ERRORS IN
JUDGMENT, BUT YOURS WAS SO
PUBLIC.
HOW DID YOU SURVIVE THAT TIME,
JIM?
>> FORTUNATELY, MY FAITH IS
DEEP.
MY FAMILY IS EXTRAORDINARY.
I NEVER HAD A QUESTION IN MY
MIND THAT ANYONE THAT I HAD
EVER WORKED WITH DIDN'T KNOW
WHO I WAS AND WHAT I WAS ALL
ABOUT.
SOMETIMES WHEN THINGS ARE
PUBLIC AND SO FORTH, PEOPLE WHO
HAVE NEVER MET YOU AND NEVER
WORKED WITH YOU, AND NEVER BEEN
A PART OF YOUR DAY-TO-DAY ARE
GOING TO DRAW JUDGMENTS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO SAY WELL
YOU CAN'T WORRY ABOUT THE
PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW YOU, OR
DON'T KNOW THE SITUATION.
WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS THOSE
PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND,
WHAT ARE THEIR THOUGHTS?
FORTUNATELY, THE PEOPLE THAT
KNOW ME, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
WORKED WITH ME OVER THE YEARS,
THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN A
PART OF MY LIFE, AND I A PART
OF THEIRS KNOW WHAT I'M ALL
ABOUT, AND THEY WERE A
TREMENDOUS SOURCE OF STRENGTH.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHY THINGS
HAPPEN.
I ALWAYS FELT THAT I WANTED TO
GET INTO EDUCATION AT A LARGER
LEVEL.
WHEN YOU'RE AT A PLACE LIKE
OHIO STATE AND THE ROLLER
COASTER IS GOING, AND THE
TREADMILL IS GOING AND THE EGO
IS BEING, YOU KNOW LOTS OF
THINGS BEING THROWN YOUR
DIRECTION, IT'S HARD TO STEP
OFF AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU
MIGHT WANT TO DO NEXT.
SO WHO KNOWS WHY SITUATIONS
OCCUR.
MAYBE IT OCCURRED BECAUSE I DID
HAVE THAT DEEP INSIDE FEELING
THAT I WANTED TO BE A PART OF
EDUCATION, IN A LARGER WAY.
AND HERE WE ARE, HAVING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH 29,000
KIDS RATHER THAN 105.
>> AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE OUT
OF TIME FOR OUR TELEVISED
PORTION OF THIS PROGRAM.
BUT I DO WANT TO ASK YOU TO
STAY HERE, WE'RE GOING TO TALK
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT EDUCATION,
WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE
MORE ABOUT FOOTBALL.
I'M GOING TO URGE OUR VIEWERS
TO GO TO WWW.NEWSNIGHT.NET TO
HEAR OUR EXTENDED DISCUSSION.
>> FOR NEWSNIGHT CONTENT, JOIN
US ONLINE AT NEWSNIGHT.NET.
>>> WELCOME BACK TO THE SECOND
SEGMENT OF NEWSNIGHT.
AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND YOU
THAT AT NEWSNIGHT.NET WE DO
HAVE EXTENDED DISCUSSIONS, AND
THE DISCUSSION THAT JIM TRESSEL
AND I HAD IS REALLY SOMETHING
YOU SHOULD GO ONLINE AND CHECK
OUT.
THIS SECOND INTERVIEW FOR ME IS
A LITTLE BIT BITTERSWEET.
IT WAS 12 YEARS AGO, WHEN I DID
ONE OF THE FIRST NEWSMAKER
INTERVIEWS FOR NEWSNIGHT.
MY GUEST WAS THE NEWLY ELECTED
SHERIFF OF SUMMIT COUNTY.
DREW ALEXANDER.
IN THOSE 12 YEARS, DREW HAS
BECOME A FRIEND.
IT'S GRATIFYING TO WELCOME HIM
BACK TO NEWSNIGHT, BUT IT'S
SAD, BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING A
PILLAR IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT
COMMUNITY WITH HIS RETIREMENT.
BUT DREW NICE TO SEE YOU, VERY
MUCH SO.
I DO WANT TO ASK YOU, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY, YOU ARE
THE LEAST PARTISAN CANDIDATE I
HAVE EVER COME ACROSS.
POLITICS DOESN'T MATTER TO YOU,
LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHY NOW?
WHY STEP DOWN NOW?
>> I'M 67.
I DIDN'T NOT WANT TO BE SHERIFF
AT 70 YEARS OLD.
I WANTED TO START DOING SOME
THINGS.
I LOVE MY JOB.
LOVED ALL 40 YEARS OF IT, BUT I
THINK THERE'S TIME WHEN WE
NEEDED A NEW BLOOD IN THE
AGENCY.
NEW IDEAS, THERE'S SOME GREAT
PEOPLE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE,
AND I THINK WITH SOME NEW IDEAS
COMING IN, I THINK IT WILL KIND
OF GIVE AN INFUSION TO THE
AGENCY.
MAYBE LIFT UP MORALE SOME, AND
KIND OF KICK THEM IN THE REAR
END A LITTLE BIT.
THEY'RE GOING TO WOULDN'T TO GO
OUT AND DO MORE, THEY'RE GOING
TO WANT TO SHOW THE NEW SHERIFF
HOW GOOD THEY ARE.
AND THEY'RE VERY GOOD.
>> DESCRIBE TO US, WHAT DOES
SHERIFF OF AN URBAN COUNTY DO?
>> YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME
MAKING FRIENDS.
TRYING TO CONNECT THINGS.
WE HAVE ALMOST 600 EMPLOYEES.
SO WE'RE NOT A SMALL AGENCY.
I ONCE HAD A CITIZEN'S ACADEMY
MEMBER AT OUR BANQUET SAY, HE
ALWAYS THOUGHT THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE WAS JUST ME AND MY
BROTHER-IN-LAW.
HE HAD NO IDEA HOW LARGE WE
WERE.
WITH THOSE RESOURCES, COMES A
LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.
EVEN WITH BUDGET CUTS AND
THINGS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
TO TRAIN OUR OFFICERS.
TRAINING IS HUGE IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
ESPECIALLY IN AN URBAN COUNTY.
WE SPENT A LOT OF OUR MONEY ON
EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING THAT I'M
ALLOWED TO BY LAW.
THE SHERIFF, I THINK THE BEST
THING I DID, WE PUT IN, LARRY
GIBBS AND I PUT A PLAN INTO
EFFECT THAT WE CALL THE FIVE
YEAR PLAN.
WE LOOKED AT OUR TALENT AT THAT
AGENCY, AND THOUGHT, WHO DO WE
WANT TO GET INTO DECISION
MAKING DOWN THE ROAD.
WE PRETTY MUCH SUCCEEDED ON
THAT.
A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WE WERE
LOOKING AT COME THROUGH FOR US.
THEY ALLOWED US TO PROMOTE
THEM, TO MANEUVER THEM
THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY, WHERE
THEY WERE THE BIGGEST ASSET TO
ME.
I WOULD HONESTLY SAY, TODAY, I
HAVE THE BEST MANAGEMENT CREW
I'VE EVER HAD.
THEY'RE OUTSTANDING.
MY JAIL COMMANDERS, MY
INVESTIGATIVE COMMANDERS, MY
OPERATION COMMANDERS.
PROBABLY THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE
MAN ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE,
BRAD WOODFIELD.
WHAT I DO NOW IS I GO TO THEM.
AND I'M A GREAT DELEGATOR.
I TALK TO THEM ALL THE TIME
ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
AND I TRUST THEIR DECISIONS.
THEY'RE EXCELLENT.
IT'S IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE RIGHT
NOW, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, YOU
HAD A 40 YEAR CAREER IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
SO IN THAT 40 YEARS, DREW, HOW
HAVE YOU SEEN THE FIELD, THE
CAREER CHANGE IN TERMS OF MAYBE
STAFFING, IN TERMS OF
CRIMINALS, IN TERMS OF A
VARIETY OF THINGS?
>> OBVIOUSLY, THE SOCIAL MEDIA
PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
WE'VE HAD TO BRANCH OUT.
SOMETHING WE WERE CAUGHT
SHORTHANDED AT IS COMPUTER
CRIMES.
WE'RE STILL WAY BEHIND ON
EVERYBODY.
AKRON UNIVERSITY, WE WENT TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON, AND
TOLD THEM OUR PROBLEM WITH
COMPUTER FORENSICS.
THEY HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED A
COLLEGE ON THIS, TO TRAIN
PEOPLE.
WE'VE WORKED REAL CLOSE WITH
AKRON U ON GETTING A COMMITMENT
FROM THEM, TO BRING THOSE
PEOPLE INTO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
FIELD TO HELP US.
WE HAVE A 6 MONTH WAIT NOW ON
ANY CHILD ***, THINGS OF THAT
NATURE.
IT'S CHANGED.
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
TODAY, KIND OF REMINDS ME OF
ATHLETICS.
THESE GUYS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE.
THEY WORK HARDER, THEY'RE
EDUCATION IS A LITTLE HIGHER.
THE CRIMINAL, OTHER THAN OUR
SOCIAL CRIMES THE RANDOM THUGS
AND THAT, BECAUSE OF THE DRUG
PROBLEM OUT THERE IN THE
STREET, THAT STILL TAKES UP
MOST OF THE OFFICERS TIMES.
JUST CALLS FOR SERVICE,
HANDLING DRUG INCIDENTS.
SO, THAT PART, WE WERE DOING
THAT 40 YEARS AGO.
BUT TODAY IS PROBABLY ENHANCED
TEN FOLD.
>> THE COUPLE OF SPECIFIC AREAS
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS WITH
YOU, ONE OF COURSE IS THE JAIL.
THAT IS ONE OF YOUR PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITIES.
HOW MUCH OF YOU WHAT YOU DO AS
A SHERIFF, AND HOW MUCH YOUR
STAFF DOES, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS
HANDLING OF PRISONERS?
>> 60%.
70%.
WE HAVE OVER 300 DEPUTIES
WORKING AT THE JAIL.
>> THAT'S ABOUT, YEAH, HALF OF
YOUR STAFF.
>> A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT
WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW JAILS IN
THE NATION THAT HAS LOWERED OUR
POPULATION.
TODAY'S COUNT, I THINK WAS 612.
THIS IS FOR A LONG WEEKEND TOO.
WE WORK WITH THE COURTS
PRETRIAL SERVICES, WHICH IS
GOLD.
PROBATION, MY PEOPLE.
WE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, AND
STARTED GETTING THESE PEOPLE
BACK OUT.
THE ONES THAT SHOULD BE OUT ON
BOND, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THEM
OUT ON BOND, AND IT'S REDUCED
OUR POPULATION AND MADE IT
SAFER FOR THE DEPUTIES AND THE
INMATES.
IF WE HAVE 608, PROBABLY 140 OF
THEM ARE ON PSYCHOTHOPHIC
DRUGS.
OUR AGENCY WAS HAUNTED.
SHE SAYS THE MARK McCULLY GHOST
STILL HANGS OVER THIS JAIL.
IT IS CONSTANTLY WE TALK ABOUT
THE MARK McCULLA CASE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DEATHS IN
THAT JAIL.
YOU HAVE 600 PLUS PEOPLE THAT
HAVE DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS.
THEY'RE VERY SUICIDAL.
THERE ARE SICK PEOPLE, AND
WE'RE NOT GETTING THE TREATMENT
FOR THEM WE SHOULD HAVE.
>> AND THEY DON'T BELONG IN THE
JAIL.
>> NO.
WE DO A LOT ON SUICIDE
PREVENTION.
WE REALLY ARE HARD WORKING AT
THIS, THE DEPUTIES ARE, BUT
WE'RE GOING TO LOSE PEOPLE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S GOING TO
BE ANOTHER MARK McCULLA.
THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN THIS ONE,
WHEN WE HAVE A MARK McCULLA,
THAT WE HAVE TO SUBDUE, WE'RE
GOING TO GO IN AND FILM IT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO IN TRAINED,
WE'RE MUCH BETTER PREPARED
TODAY TO HANDLE THE MARK
McCULLA OF TODAY, THAN WE WERE
SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO.
>> JUST RECENTLY, YOU INDICATED
THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE
ANY OF THE VIOLENT OFFENDERS
WHO MAY IN FACT HAVE MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES.
HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE IN THAT
REGARD IN TERMS OF THE
PARTNERSHIPS IN THE INDUSTRY?
>> NO, WE STILL TALK.
WE BUMP HEADS A LOT.
THIS IS NO DISRESPECT TOWARDS
THEM, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK
THEY GET IT.
WHAT'S GOING ON AT THAT JAIL.
IF WE HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE
THAT ARE THAT SICK IN THE JAIL
AND WE'RE STILL ASKING FOR
ALTERNATIVES, GET THEM OUT OF
MY JAIL.
I'M CERTAINLY NOT THE EXPERT ON
THIS SUBJECT.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WRONG?
WE'VE BEEN COMPLAINING FOR SIX
OR SEVEN YEARS, WE'VE HAD AN
AGENCY PARTIALLY DESTROYED OVER
IT.
FIVE LIVES OF THE DEPUTIES
INVOLVED REALLY AFFECTED IN
THIS.
YET TODAY WE GO ON IN OUR
MENTAL HEALTH SOCIETY.
SOME OF THE PLANS THAT HAVE
COME OUT OF THESE MEETINGS ARE
GOOD.
THE INTERCEPTIVE PLANS WHEN
THEY LEAVE JAIL.
THERE IS A PERCENTAGE THAT STAY
UNDER MEDS.
WE STILL HAVE 130 PEOPLE UNDER
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS.
>> *** LABS, THE PROBLEM IS
EXTRAORDINARY.
IS IT WE HAVE SUCH GOOD LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAT WE KNOW, WE'RE
OUT THERE GETTING THESE ***
LABS?
TALK ABOUT THAT AND ALSO THE
DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT, WE DO HAVE
AGGRESSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT ON
THIS.
MY DRUG UNIT AND AKRON PD.
WE DO MORE *** LABS IN SUMMIT
COUNTY THAN THE REST OF THE
STATE COMBINED.
WE HAVE A LOT OF *** LABS
HERE.
I DON'T KNOW THE ATTRACTION.
THE DRUG SCREENS, THE DRUG OF
CHOICE IS STILL *** AND
***, AS COMPARED TO SUMMIT
COUNTY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHY, *** SEEMS
TO BE oTHE POPULAR DRUG HERE.
WE ARE VERY HARD WORKING ON IT.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE MOM AND
POP LABS, YOU HAVE TWO
DIFFERENT SETS, YOU HAVE THE
MEXICAN CARTEL METHAMPHETAMINE
COMING IN, WHICH IS A VERY
POWERFUL, DESTRUCTIVE DRUG.
THEN YOU HAVE THE MOM AND POP
LABS.
THEY WILL THROW BOTTLES OUT IN
THE STREET.
USE CORK BOTTLES, PLASTIC
BOTTLES.
COOK THEM IN THE BACKSEAT, AND
THROW THESE OUT.
THE CHILDREN WALKING HOME FROM
STREET, THEY MIGHT KICK THIS
OPEN.
THEY DUMP THEIR PRODUCTS INTO
THE GROUND, WHICH GETS INTO, WE
HAD ONE THAT WAS MIXED INTO A
SCHOOL YARD.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE
DUMPING THERE.
IT'S VERY HAZARDOUS TO THE
ENVIRONMENT, FOR NO OTHER
REASON, WE HAVE TO KNOCK THESE
LABS OUT TO GET THEM OUT OF THE
COMMUNITY.
>> LAST YEAR WE CAME TO YOUR
OFFICE AND WE FILMED A PROGRAM
ABOUT CONCEALED CARRY.
THAT WAS WHEN THE STATE DECIDED
GUNS COULD BE IN ESTABLISHMENTS
THAT HAD ALCOHOL.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU, IF THERE'S
BEEN A RISE IN PROBLEMS WITH
THAT?
>> NONE WHATSOEVER.
I'M STILL AN ADVOCATE FOR MORE
TRAINING.
I WANT THEM TO HAVE MORE
TRAINING.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM
GET MORE TRAINING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT HAVE THE RESOURCES
LIKE MY TRAINING CENTER TO
OFFER MORE TRAINING TO THESE
PEOPLE.
WE MIGHT HAVE TO CHARGE TO PAY
FOR THE DEPUTIES TIME.
I HAVE SOME TERRIFIC GUN PEOPLE
ON IT, AT THE TRAINING CENTER.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET PEOPLE THAT
REALLY AREN'T, THAT KNOW
THEY'RE NOT REALLY QUALIFIED TO
CARRY A GUN, WITH 12 HOURS
TRAINING.
MAYBE WE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
CAN GET THEM THROUGH SOMETHING
WHERE THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO
CARRY THAT WEAPON.
>> I'VE GOT ABOUT 15 SECONDS
LEFT.
WHAT'S YOUR GREATEST
ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 12 YEARS?
>> I THINK THE JAIL POPULATION,
GETTING THAT DOWN.
PROBABLY AND LETTING PEOPLE
KNOW THE BEST KEPT SECRET OF
SUMMIT COUNTY IS THE SUMMIT
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> STAY WITH ME, WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ON
NEWSNIGHT.NET.
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