The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Sheriff’s captain to join county prosecutor’s office
A Lorain County Sheriff’s Office captain is preparing to transition back to the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office.
On May 8, Capt. Rick Thomas, director of law enforcement, submitted his resignation to Sheriff Phil R. Stammitti. Thomas’ last day with the Sheriff’s Office is May 26.
In the letter, Thomas said he thought when he accepted the job
about a year ago it would be his last as a peace officer.
Thomas said his time with the Sheriff’s Office allowed him to more clearly understand the “awesome responsibility” of the law enforcement agency.
“This opportunity has afforded me the chance to meet and work with so many talented, dedicated and quality people that I will be forever grateful,” Thomas wrote in his letter. “New friendships have been formed and I have developed an entirely new appreciation for the burden society and the legislature has placed on the shoulders of the Sheriff’s and their sworn deputies in this state.
“There is a stark difference between this and being a municipal police officer, and my respect for the work our deputies do on a daily basis has increased continuously during my time here.”
Despite the opportunities, Thomas said the time has come for his to step away.
Prosecutor Dennis Will said Thomas will return to his office to serve as an investigator.
“All the people he’s worked with here are thrilled to death,” Will said.
Thomas previously worked on several longterm cases, such as the one against former attorney Michael Fine, 59, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison on five counts of kidnapping with a sexual motivation specification, the prosecutor said.
“He has a lot of investigative skills,” Will said. “(Thomas) was an investigator and he was the captain in charge of the detective bureau in North Ridgeville before he became the chief.
“So, he has the ability to put cases together. He’s very organized, which is one of the reasons why the prosecutors like him because when he puts a case together, it’s usually fully put together. He’s coming back and we’re happy to have him.”