ADMINISTRATION

Chief Deputy Charles Middleton

Chief Deputy. Middleton started with the Sheriff's Office in 1984 as a corrections officer and later transferred to dispatch.  Chuck is a 1987 graduate of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy and became a road patrol officer in January of 1988.  He was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in January of 1991,  assigned as an investigator in January of 1999, promoted to Lieutenant in charge of Investigations on January 1, 2001, and promoted to Chief Deputy on October 1, 2005.  Chief Middleton has received training in elder abuse, tactical communications, solving unresolved homicides, human diversity, clandestine laboratory training, photography, first line supervision, street drugs, basic drug investigation, recognizing and handling mentally ill offenders, survival tactics,  interview and interrogation skills, advanced crime scene and holds a permit from the State of Ohio as a Senior Operator on the Datamaster.

Lt. Steve Alexander

Lt. Alexander began his law enforcement career in 1992 with the Lynchburg, Ohio, Police Department, becoming the Chief in 1993.  Steve came to the Sheriff's Office as a road patrol officer in December of 1994, assigned as an investigator in 2000, promoted to Sergeant on January 1, 2001 and promoted to the Lieutenant in charge of the Investigations Unit on October 1, 2005.  Steve is a graduate of the basic police academy at Scarlet Oaks.  Lt. Alexander's training includes a permit from the State of Ohio as a Senior Operator on the Datamaster, advanced crash investigation, advanced crime scene, sniper school, interviews and interrogations and is a certified firearms instructor for the Sheriff's Office.  Steve is married, has six children and enjoys boating on his off time.

Lt.  Randy Reffitt

Lt. Randy Reffitt began his career with the Hillsboro Police Department in 1995.  Randy is a graduate of the Peace Officer Academy held at the Ohio State Highway Patrol.  Randy came to the Sheriff's Office as a K9 handler in the Road Patrol Division in 2005.  Randy was promoted to Sergeant in January 2008 and assigned as the Deputy Jail Administrator in the Corrections Division, and then in February 2009, as Jail Administrator.

Administrative Assistant Jacqueline Barrera

Deputy Jacquie Barrera came to the Sheriff's Office on January 1, 2001 as the administrative assistant to Sheriff Ward.  Jacquie brings with her over twenty years experience working in the office of the Highland County Prosecutor.  Deputy Barrera will handle payroll records, assist in preparation of the annual budget, office inventory, and other duties as assigned by Sheriff Ward.

Administrative Assistant Micki J. Russell

Deputy Micki Russell has been an employee of Highland County since 1986.  Micki came to the Sheriff's Office in August of 2001 and is assigned to the Corrections Division.  Dep. Russell handles all inmate money, inmate commissary orders, inmate trust fund, commissary account, inmate reimbursement,  inmate contract invoices and inmate records request.  Dep. Russell is married, has three children and enjoys church activities, camping and being with her family.