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Incoming Washington County Sheriff Mark Warden was right when he said "I've got some big shoes to fill," regarding retiring Sheriff Larry Mincks.
No doubt Warden is capable of filling them, but Mincks has set a high standard for service to Washington County.
A short list of some of his accomplishments includes building the reserve from the 0.5% sales tax, helping the sheriff's department become part of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission through the creation of the Washington County Major Crimes Task Force, working to ensure there is always a deputy in each of the county's five zones, putting school resource officers in all but one of the county's school districts, leading a staff that has received two perfect scores after inspections at the new jail, and the establishment of the sheriff's office's cold case unit, which has so far solved five cases.
True to form, Mincks did not take all the credit for such a record.
"I've had a tremendous staff that has worked for me and what we have done has been as a team ... I've been very fortunate for the people who have worked for me," he said. "They have been outstanding ... they're truly dedicated and committed individuals."
Mincks, who said he has "never, ever hated going to work," said he will miss the people with whom he has worked, and that serving Washington County has been "very rewarding."
But now he plans to relax a bit in retirement -- spend some time with family and watch a little baseball, among other things.
Good. He has certainly earned it.
Not only do Washington Countians wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement, we join together in saying "Thank you, sir."