Sheriff Donnie Barrera accepts oath of office from Judge Coss before overflow courtroom crowd
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
An overflow crowd of approximately 200 people packed the Highland County Common Pleas Courtroom Monday night, as Sheriff Donnie Barrera accepted his oath of office from Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss.
Donnie's wife, Jacquie, held the Bible as family, friends and HCSO officers stood by.
Judge Coss said it was the largest crowd he has witnessed in the courtroom.
After welcoming everyone in attendance, Judge Coss said, "It is a great honor for me to swear in Donnie Barrera."
The judge spoke of their "common roots" in the New Market community. (Both Barrera and Coss attended the former New Market Elementary School.)
"This great crowd is a tribute to you," Coss told the new sheriff. "The voters indicated their trust in you."
After defeating Richard Warner in the May 2014 Republican primary election by an unofficial count of 4,107-2,349, Barrera received the highest number of county votes in the Nov. 4 general election, with more than 8,450 votes.
Prior to the official oath of office, Coss shared a story from the late David Pence, a longtime defense attorney in Highland County.
"Dave was a great defense attorney," Coss said. "He always said the most difficult cases he had was when there was a 'down-to-earth, tell-the-truth' officer on the stand. Dave said the first officer that that most definitely described was Donnie Barrera. It's true.
"I'm pleased to have you running the department and I look forward to working with you," the judge said.
[[In-content Ad]]
After the swearing in and a lengthy applause, Barrera thanked his family, campaign volunteers and all of Highland County.
"Throughout the campaign, I've had great people in the county supporting us. Too many to name," Barrera said. "I thank the whole county. I thank my family.
"I'm looking forward to serving the county, and hopefully, I can make everybody as happy as I am tonight. I'm going to work right away."
In addition to his wife, Jacquie, and family, Barrera also singled out former sheriffs Tom Horst and Ron Ward, thanking the former for hiring him and the latter for promoting him to supervisor in 1999.
Barrera mentioned working with Judge Kevin Greer, Prosecutor Anneka Collins, Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited, and Mayor Drew Hastings.
Public officials from all around the county were in attendance, including commissioners, judges, city council members, township trustees and others.
"We've got some great people and we'll be there for Highland County," Barrera said. "I thank everyone for showing up tonight and taking time away from your families."
* * *
• Sheriff Barrera began his career with the Highland County Sheriff's Office in 1993 as a road patrol deputy. In 1999, he was promoted to road sergeant of the patrol division.
In 20-plus years as a deputy sheriff for Highland County, Barrera has served as "acting sheriff" during the absence of both the sheriff and chief deputy and has been a guiding force as lead officer on many cases throughout his career.
In May, Barrera was sworn in as a provisional officer with the Hillsboro Police Department.
With the HCSO, Barrera has served as officer in charge of the traffic crash division, overseeing crash reports distributed to state authorities and developing the traffic crash reporting system training program.
Barrera has also worked as an Ohio Peace Officer Training Council instructor, gaining expertise in field sobriety testing and OVI enforcement, and as a Police Training Academy and Taser instructor. Barrera has obtained more than 1,000 hours of law enforcement and management training since 1992.
Among Barrera's career accomplishments are: Ohio Distinguished Law Enforcement Community Service Award by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, 2013; Highland County OVI Award, 2001; Distinguished Service Award from the Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association, 1998; Lifesaving Recognition Award from Division of Parks and Recreation, 1998; and Highland County Sheriff's Office Deputy of the Year Award, 1996.