Summit County Sheriff's Office earns state's top law enforcement accreditation
February 26, 2026
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that the Summit County Sheriff’s Office received the state's highest law enforcement accreditation through the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. The program was established to recognize law enforcement agencies that meet or exceed state standards of professional excellence and meet responsibilities such as professional conduct, crisis intervention, bias-free policing, community engagement, career development, use of force, and more.
“We’re incredibly proud to receive this accreditation," said Sheriff Kandy Fatheree. "It shows that the Summit County Sheriff's Office is not only executing and training on the best practices and policies in the law enforcement field, but that we're also helping to shape those practices and set the standard statewide. It’s a testament to the hard work and professionalism of the men and women of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office."
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The goal of the accreditation program is to create and uphold meaningful standards for law enforcement agencies across Ohio, as well to as evaluate their continued performance, and increase public trust in law enforcement.
“Attaining accreditation through this program is a prestigious achievement,” said Governor DeWine. “Those living in communities served by an accredited department can be confident that their local law enforcement agency demonstrates exceptional professionalism and meets Ohio’s high expectations for excellence in public safety services.”
To date, only 24 of the more than 900 law enforcement agencies in the State of Ohio have achieved OCLEAP accreditation.
To maintain accredited status, agencies must provide annual documentation of continued compliance, and undergo an on-site checkup visit every two years and an on-site assessment every four years.
Sheriff brings nationally recognized IGNITE program at the Summit County Jail
January 7, 2026
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office held a ceremony this afternoon to announce the official launch of the IGNITE program. ​IGNITE (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) was first developed in Michigan in 2020, and was adopted as a nationwide initiative the following year by the National Sheriffs' Association.
The program is designed to transform the lives of those incarcerated in county jails by providing education and skills, fostering a sense of pride and empowerment in participants, changing societal views, increasing safety within our jails, and reducing recidivism.​
​“Our adoption of IGNITE will not only serve as an umbrella for the many programs we already offer, allowing them to grow and flourish – it will also help us attract new partnerships with those willing to give inmates a second chance,” said Sheriff Kandy Fatheree.
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A representative from the NSA present at the launch cited the impact that IGNITE is having in the counties that have adopted it, referencing research from Harvard, Brown, and the University of Michigan that found that just one month in the program reduced misconduct by 25%, reduced the recidivism rate by 24%, and that participants gained a full grade level in math and reading proficiency.
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“The ultimate goal of IGNITE and one of my top goals as Sheriff is to reduce recidivism, which is beneficial to everyone in our community: the inmates who get their lives back on track and becomes productive members of society, our overburdened criminal justice system, and every county resident whose tax dollars pay for those repeated incarcerations,” said Sheriff Fatheree.
Summit County is the 34th county in the United States to adopt IGNITE and the largest of the five in Ohio to introduce the program.
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“There’s great power in helping someone tap into their own potential and realize what they’re capable of,” said Sheriff Fatheree, “and I can tell you firsthand that there’s so much potential within the walls of this jail.”
Sheriff's Office receives grant to hire Addiction Services Coordinator at Jail
March 10, 2025
Sheriff Fatheree is excited to announce that the Sheriff’s Office has been awarded an $187,000 grant from the Attorney General’s Office. The funds will be used to hire a full-time Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) to serve as an Addiction Services Coordinator at the Summit County Jail.
According to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, around 65% of jail inmates nationwide are addicted to opioids or other substances. Fatheree estimates that an even larger number of inmates booked in Summit County are dealing with substance abuse disorders.
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Historically, most jails in the state, including Summit County, have provided limited medically assisted treatment to those with substance abuse disorders, in compliance with the Ohio Minimum Jail Standards. This treatment was largely focused on those in detox protocols or other special circumstances, such as pregnant women. Fatheree has been working to change that in Summit County and enact a more proactive approach to inmate substance abuse and addiction that is driven by evidence-based best practices, and that is in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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The new Addiction Services Coordinator will be charged with assessing inmates upon their arrival and ensuring that those in need of treatment receive it as soon as possible. They will have the authority to prescribe medications for opiate use disorder, as well as formulate treatment plans, monitor progress, develop transitional care and re-entry planning, and collaborate with community treatment providers and social support services to ensure continued progress after release.
“Many of these individuals have the desire and the inner strength that it takes to stay sober, but they need that initial helping hand to pull them up,” said Fatheree. “At the jail, we have an opportunity to reach them when they’re at their lowest point, and to provide the kind of treatment that can help ensure that we never have to see them in there again!”
Akron Beacon Journal endorses Sheriff Fatheree
September 29, 2024
Summit County's largest newspaper, the Akron Beacon Journal, has endorsed Sheriff Fatheree in her re-election bid. "In her nearly four years with the sheriff’s office, Fatheree has launched several projects and initiated numerous other changes that she wants to see realized," write the Beacon. "We think Fatheree, the county’s first female sheriff, deserves the chance to do so."
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Over the past several months, Sheriff Fatheree has received over 100 endorsements from first responders, labor unions, women's groups, newspapers, and political leaders in both parties from all corners of Summit County.
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Officials Join Sheriff Fatheree for Grand Opening of THRIVE House
August 13, 2024
County officials joined Sheriff Fatheree to celebrate the grand opening of THRIVE House, a new facility providing transitional housing and continued care for newly released individuals from the Summit County Jail who are homeless and participating in the jail’s THRIVE program.
The THRIVE program was developed by Sheriff Fatheree and Summit Psychological Associates to pair case managers with inmates who are struggling with mental health and substance use disorders to help them with their recovery, provide mental health treatment, and connect them with resources and benefits.
“After more than three decades in law enforcement, I’ve seen firsthand how often individuals with substance use and mental health disorders fall through the cracks and find themselves in an endless loop of incarceration and release," said Sheriff Fatheree. "In most cases, they just need a helping hand and somebody to walk beside them in their treatment and recovery journey."
THRIVE House is a continuation of the Jail’s THRIVE program, providing housing for those participating in the program who are homeless at the time of their release. The facility will be staffed by Community Support Services, who provide vocational, clinical, and housing support. While in THRIVE House, clients will continue working with case managers to reach their treatment goals and find permanent housing.
"The THRIVE program and THRIVE House are helping to reduce recidivism at the county jail, which is a net benefit and savings for everyone in our county," said Sheriff Fatheree. "But more importantly, this is simply the compassionate thing to do."
Sheriff Fatheree & Rep Sykes Secure Nearly $1 Million for Local Law Enforcement
August 5, 2024
Sheriff Kandy Fatheree and U.S. Congresswoman Emilia Sykes announced that they've worked together to secure nearly $1 million in federal funds to be distributed to thirteen area law enforcement agencies for the purchase of new police cruisers.
In March 2023, Sheriff Fatheree submitted a request for the police cruiser funding, with Congresswoman Sykes incorporating the Summit and Stark County Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program in her Fiscal Year 2024 Community Project Funding proposal.
“Combating crime is our top priority, but local police often find themselves constrained by the resources available,” said Sheriff Fatheree. “When police are forced to use outdated vehicles and technology, it makes their jobs difficult and leaves our residents more vulnerable. That’s why I was so pleased to work with Congresswoman Sykes to secure this funding.”
Sheriff's Office Cuts Deputy Shortage by Half through Innovative Recruitment
June 13, 2024
With the swearing-in of 14 new deputies who completed the Academy in June, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office’s recent shortage in deputies has now been cut by more than half.
Like most law enforcement agencies across the nation, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office has faced a deficit in deputies in recent years, with retirements outpacing new hires. The shortage peaked in 2022, with the office down 59 deputies. As of June, that number has been reduced to 28, with a full summer class of cadets already commenced, and another full class expected in the autumn.
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Sheriff Fatheree attributes the turnaround to her team’s think-outside-the-box approach to recruitment and outreach. “There were many groups in our community that, for a long time, were overlooked when it comes to recruitment – those days are over,” said the Sheriff.
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Fatheree also announced that the office is now paying the tuition of the academy and providing cadets an hourly wage during the training to help eliminate the financial barriers that prevented many from joining.
"It’s an investment in their future, it’s an investment in the future of our office, and it’s an investment in the safety of our community. It’s a win-win no matter how you cut it.”
Sheriff's Office Investigation Leads to More Arrests in FirstEnergy Bribery Scandal
February 12, 2024
The former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and two former FirstEnergy executives were indicted for their alleged role in the House Bill 6 scandal following a year-long investigation by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
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Sam Randazzo, former PUCO chairman; Chuck Jones, former CEO of First Energy; and Mike Dowling, former First Energy senior vice president of external affairs, face a combined 27 felony counts.
Sheriff kandy Fatheree took part in a press conference alongside the Attorney General announcing the indictments. "The crimes committed by these individuals impacted the pocketbooks of every hard-working Ohioan," said Sheriff Fatheree. "Today, we take another important step in ensuring that justice is served, and that those who took advantage of the public's trust are held accountable."
Sheriff Fatheree Receives Civil Rights Award
July 23, 2023
Sheriff Kandy Fatheree is honored to have been awarded the Civil Rights Outstanding Law Enforcement Executive, Justice by Action award at the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE) Awards Brunch on Sunday, July 23rd, 2023.
NOBLE recognized Sheriff Fatheree’s efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, to better reflect the community it serves. Examples include hiring the first Director of DEI in Sheriff’s Office history, forging new partnerships with houses of worship and community organizations, increasing DEI training for deputies and staff, obtaining grant funding to improve and expand recruitment efforts to attract more women, minorities, and new citizens, and introducing the national Faith & Blue initiative to Summit County – the largest law enforcement-community collaboration in the nation.
Fatheree also received recognition for her advocacy to reform state’s dress code policy for deputies to allow for religious accommodations after her office hired the first Sikh deputy in Ohio history, her efforts to establish a “Step Up” program for inmates with mental health and addiction issues to help reduce recidivism, and her promotion of Captain Donna Nicholas to Chief and Captain Matamba Kaalima to Major, making them respectively the highest ranking woman and African American in Summit County Sheriff’s Office history.
Sheriff Fatheree appointed to National Sheriff's Association Board of Directors
February 10, 2023
Sheriff Fatheree was proudly appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Sheriff's Association last week.
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"At this critical time for our nation, the public is demanding better of law enforcement," said Fatheree. "I welcome this new role with the NSA as an opportunity to bring my vision of fairness, accessibility, inclusion, and reform to the national level.
Sheriff Fatheree makes Donna Nicholas first
female chief in county history
December 27, 2022
Sheriff Fatheree promoted Captain Donna Nicholas to the rank of Chief of Corrections today. Chief Nicholas has been with the Sheriff's Office for 27 years. She was its first female Captain, and is now not only the first female Chief in Sheriff's Office history, but in the history of all Summit County law enforcement agencies.
Sheriff Fatheree swears in highest-ranking African American in county history
Sheriff Fatheree promoted Captain Matamba Kaalima to the rank of Major this week, making him the highest ranking African American law enforcement official in Summit County History. Kaalima has been with the Sheriff's Office for 18 years, and has spent most of that time in corrections, which he considers his passion. He has studied law enforcement and corrections his entire adult life, is a publish author, and enjoys poetry and playing the trumpet in his spare time.
December 18, 2021
