By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Coordinator

When Seneca County Sheriff Fredrick Stevens took office in 2021, he brought with him a desire for transparency and accessibility. He wanted to find ways to connect with county residents so they could better understand the work of the Sheriff’s Office and voice their concerns and suggestions. As it turns out, those conversations also bring a lot of praise.

To make connection convenient, Sheriff Stevens joined Sgt. Andrew Shellhouse of the Ohio State Patrol’s Bucyrus Post and Tiffin Police Department Lt. Jake DeMonte for Coffee with a Cop at Rural King in Tiffin on Sept. 15. Sheriff Stevens was grateful that Rural King welcomed them to the store. As customers walked by, they were invited to join them for coffee, snacks, and conversation.

Customers who stopped to talk shared concerns like excessive speeding and unattended garbage cans in their neighborhoods. The man who expressed frustration about the garbage cans said he wants to make Tiffin even nicer.

“It’s the little things that make the difference,” he said.

A local village resident sat with Sheriff Stevens to talk being scammed out of $1,200. He was angry and frustrated and wanted to share his story in the hope of preventing scammers from harming other county residents. Sheriff Stevens shared the man’s anger, expressed his compassion, and provided a little hope. He said there was a chance that the village police department may be able to track the scammer through his email and execute a warrant.

Amongst the few concerns expressed during Coffee with a Cop were many handshakes and expressions of gratitude.

“No complaints,” one customer said. “Thank you for your service.”

It was a phrase heard over and over during the event. Sheriff Stevens, Sgt. Shellhouse, and Lt. DeMonte were grateful for the support. They work in dangerous and often underappreciated professions, so it is uplifting to know that local residents see the good work they do, the caring hearts they have, and their constant desire to make the community even better.

“We’re here to hear complaints and suggestions. We want to engage with the community,” Sheriff Stevens said.

That door of conversation is always open as Sheriff Stevens prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of Seneca County residents.