The winner of the primary race will face no opponents in November’s general election — securing the sheriff position.
Matthew Melvin
Melvin is the current Champaign County sheriff. He has worked as a dispatcher, corrections officer, court services deputy, patrol deputy, sergeant and chief deputy.
Melvin also holds an associates’ degree in criminal justice from Clark State Community College.
“I continue to meet and exceed all the state of Ohio’s mandatory sheriff training classes and will continue my training throughout my career,” Melvin said. “As sheriff, I have extensive experience upholding your constitutional rights as United States Citizens, while ensuring premium law enforcement services.”
Melvin said he is seeking another term because he is the most qualified and believes the citizens deserve for their sheriff to “possess the knowledge for how the sheriff’s office budget operates, current investigations, cold case investigations, not to mention the challenges that face the sheriff’s office on a daily basis.”
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If re-elected, Melvin said he will continue to use his knowledge, leadership and experience.
“During my tenure, I have worked all divisions within this agency, which has given me the knowledge and experience to identify the specific needs of our county,” he said. “Under my administration, we have worked with our board of county commissioners, enabling our office to obtain the tools and personnel necessary to provide the best possible service to the citizens of our community. Under my leadership, the sheriff’s office has persevered through many hardships that have faced our county.”
Melvin’s top priorities are to continue providing effective and up-to-date law enforcement services, implement a Citizens Criminal Justice Academy to train citizens on how county entities operate, expand personnel within the Patrol and Investigation Divisions, and see the evidence division get accredited by the International Association for Property and Evidence.
Chad Burroughs
Burroughs recently resigned from his position at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to run for Champaign County Sheriff. Previously, he has worked as a sergeant, detective sergeant, major, colonel and law enforcement officer.
Burroughs also attended the Law Enforcement Academy after graduation.
“The majority of my career has been spent investigating major crimes such as homicide, property crimes, narcotics and sex crimes,” Burroughs said. “I also have extensive experience in developing policy and procedures, budgeting and the general operations of a sheriff’s office.”
Burroughs said he decided to run because he and his family been life-long residents, but he has also worked a lifetime to place himself in a position to represent the county.
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“I also have had experience working in other countries with their law enforcement officers and citizen’s, which provided me with a wealth of knowledge and resources to assist our citizens,” Burroughs said.
Burroughs’ top priorities include providing tools and training for active shooter and violent situations, to lower rates on property crimes, aggressively investigate drug crimes, see continued growth in the sheriff’s office, add more officers and support staff, continue educational opportunities for the public and continue reduction in crime.
David Patrick II
Patrick is a Lieutenant for the Mechanicsburg Police Department. Previously, he has worked as a dispatcher for the Urbana Police Department and Champaign County Communication Center, in the private security and community patrol sector in Columbus, and as an officer for St. Paris and Mechanicsburg Police Departments.
Patrick also holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in criminal justice and is a founding member and current treasurer of the Mechanicsburg Police Officers Association.
“I have brought nearly $500,000 of grant funding back to the communities I have served,” Patrick said. “We have raised money for and funded two K-9 units and other projects without using local taxpayers dollars.”
Patrick said he is running for sheriff because he knows the value of hard work and is willing to have good, working relationships with citizens and departments.
“I am someone who looks for answers instead of giving excuses,” he said.
Patrick’s top priorities include reducing response time, drug trafficking and OVI related injuries and deaths, implement a mutual aid agreement for the use of all agencies, bring as many taxpayer dollars back to the county as possible, work towards national law enforcement accreditation to reduce liability insurance for the county, and improve overall communication and relationships throughout all county law enforcement agencies.
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