Sheriff Kelly

Patrick Kelly, SheriffAthens County Sheriff 

The Sheriff is the highest ranking law enforcement officer in the county. The office of Sheriff is an elected position and he/she serves a term of 4 years. The Sheriff is tasked with providing emergency services, public protection, criminal investigations and any other routine law enforcement services to the citizens of Athens County. The Sheriff by law is also tasked with prisoner transportation, property auctions and court paper services, along with many other tasks for the public and courts within the county.

 

Sheriff Kelly’s Biography

Sheriff Kelly was born in Nelsonville, Ohio December 14, 1950. The Sheriff’s father, Thomas J. Kelly was a long time police officer for the city of Nelsonville.

After graduating from Nelsonville –York High School and Tri-County Joint Vocational High School in 1970, Sheriff Kelly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps were I served as a military police officer.

Sheriff Kelly began his local law enforcement career in 1977 at the Athens County Sheriff’s Office under former Sheriff Paul Brown.

In 2005, Pat Kelly went to Baghdad, Iraq as part of the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team. CPATT is a multi-national advisory team operating within the US-led coalition in Iraq to rebuild the Iraqi Police Force.

The Sheriff and his wife Debbie live on The Plains, Ohio and have five children and seven grandchildren.

Personal message from Sheriff Patrick Kelly:

I am privileged and honored to serve as your Sheriff of Athens County. It has been my lifelong dream to serve the residents of Athens County as Sheriff and I will do everything with in my powers to make Athens County a safer, more enjoyable place to work, play and raise your families.

    Sincerely,

    Patrick Kelly, Sheriff

    You may contact me at sheriffkelly@athenssheriff.com

Personal accomplishments as Sheriff:

  • Honored in a proclamation by The Ohio House of Representatives, for exemplary service to the residents of Athens County, August 2009
  • “Whereas Patrick Kelly continually strives to increase public safety and to improve the law enforcement profession, and has thereby earned the admiration and respect of his officers and staff, his peers, and his community…”   
  • Two time recipient of the prestigious; Buckeye State Sheriff’s Certified Law Enforcement Manager Award, 2010-2011
  • The CLEM award is presented to sheriffs who “demonstrate a high level of competence and ethical fitness for law enforcement by fulfilling prescribed standards of conduct and performance and completing a designated number of hours of training.”
  • National Sheriff’s Institute Graduate, April 2010
  • “Has graduated from the Executive Level Management Education and Training, 98th National Sheriff’s Institute, Longmont Colorado
  • Athens News, 2010-2011, Readers Choice, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award

 

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