GITTINGS

CHESTER — When Hancock County enters 2021, residents will have a new sheriff at the helm.

Scott Gittings, deputy chief for the Chester Police Department, ran uncontested for the sheriff’s post earlier this month, after winning the Republican primary in June. Current sheriff, Ralph Fletcher, could not seek re-election because of term limits.

Days after his victory, Gittings admitted he is filled with excitement about the chance to return home, after previously serving with the sheriff’s department. He also had served as New Cumberland police chief and has experience with various areas of law enforcement, including the K-9 unit, evidence room and as a school resource office.

Running for sheriff is something that Gittings said he had contemplated for a while now, admitting that he obviously had good timing both personally and politically.

Some changes will be forthcoming, but they will be gradual and merit-based.

“I haven’t been there in five years, so I want to make sure there is an issue before making a change,” explained Gittings as to why he didn’t want to reveal his hand too much.

Some things, though, he has already made up his made to change

For example, he wants to see their drug interdiction policies tweaked. Not only will he more actively target drug dealers, but he wants to see more community addiction prevention efforts, especially among the elementary school children.

He is going to speak to addiction and mental health counselors about the best approach, saying he believes children would respond more positively to peers and mentors they can relate to rather than a police officer in a program like DARE.

Hancock County already has seven resource officers in the Hancock County schools.

Technology is a big improvement that needs attention, and Gittings said municipalities are finding that CARES Act money provide a unique opportunity for upgrades to antiquated radio updates as well as increased attention to both body and dash cameras, which Hancock already has.

While he admits that the sheriff’s office fleet is decent overall, Gittings believes he would like to see a few new cruisers as there are a few in need of replacement.

Gittings also announced his plan to take his current boss, Chester Police Chief Todd Murray, with him as his first major hire, replacing Chief Deputy Art Watson.

Watson will be given the option of either reassuming his previous lieutenant title or retiring.

Gittings and Murray recently met with Fletcher to discuss the transition and the office’s needs.

Like Chester, where he serves as Murray’s assistant chief, he said that drugs are the main issue driving the area’s crime. Whether violent crime or property crime, the offenses usually stem from an encounter of illegal substances.

The difference is that unlike now where he and Murray are two of the officers assigned to oversee the Chester department, the sheriff’s office oversees most of the remaining county areas except Weirton and New Cumberland.

Newell, for example, is around the size of Chester but dependent on the county sheriff office for its law enforcement due to it being unincorporated, he said.

“We are going to come up with the best plan that we can, and I am ready to get to work,” Gittings, who has six children with wife, Kelly, said.

(Ujhelyi can be contacted at sujhelyi@reviewonline.com)