The argument over who should police Clay Township — and what residents should pay for it — is flaring up again.
This time, Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman is pushing back against a flyer being circulated in the township that he says gives residents misleading information about the cost of dedicated deputy coverage.
According to Thoroughman, the flyer suggests money now used for township deputies could instead be spent on things like roads, culverts, bridges, or hiring another township employee.
The sheriff says that is not how the money works.
“Funds collected for a specific purpose must be spent on that purpose,” Thoroughman said.
Ohio law does distinguish between general operating money and revenue raised for specific purposes. Special-purpose tax money is generally restricted to the purpose for which it was levied.
Thoroughman also disputed other claims in the flyer, including an assertion involving uniforms.
He said the township’s contract does not pay for deputy uniforms and that the amount of dedicated coverage is a level selected by the township trustees.
Two Deputies, More Than 1,400 Calls
According to Thoroughman, Clay Township currently has two deputies specifically assigned to the township.
He said calls for service have remained fairly steady:
- 1,463 calls in 2024
- 1,565 calls in 2025
- 1,465 calls so far in 2026
The sheriff’s argument is that without those dedicated deputies, Clay Township would fall back on the county’s regular road deputies.
Those deputies cover areas of Scioto County that do not have their own assigned township officers.
And, according to Thoroughman, there are times when only one or two road deputies are covering the entire county.
That means Clay Township calls could potentially wait longer if its dedicated positions disappeared, especially when road deputies are already tied up elsewhere.
We’ve Had This Fight Before
If all of this sounds familiar, it should.
Back in 2024, Clay Township police coverage became the center of a very public disagreement between Thoroughman and Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer.
Brewer had discussed a proposal under which Portsmouth Police could provide coverage to Clay Township, with additional officers funded through township money.
Thoroughman strongly objected.
At the time, he argued that Portsmouth would need considerably more staffing than the proposal contemplated in order to truly provide round-the-clock coverage.
He also argued that the arrangement could become expensive for Portsmouth taxpayers and potentially pull police resources away from the city itself.
In a public statement at the time, Thoroughman estimated that staffing Clay Township around the clock would require five officers and put annual personnel costs above $600,000 before vehicles, fuel and equipment were added.
He also criticized what he described as a lack of communication between Portsmouth Police and the Sheriff’s Office while he was working on broader countywide dispatch plans.
So the current flyer controversy isn’t happening in a vacuum.
Clay Township residents have already spent the past couple of years hearing competing arguments about how much police coverage they need, who should provide it, and what it should cost.
What the Flyer Gets Wrong — According to the Sheriff
Thoroughman’s latest statement boils the current dispute down to two points.
First, he says residents should not assume money earmarked for deputy services can simply be moved over to road repairs or another township payroll position.
Second, he says the current level of service was not something the Sheriff’s Office forced on Clay Township.
It was a choice made by township officials.
That does not settle the larger policy question of whether residents believe the current arrangement is worth the cost.
But it does change the question.
Instead of simply asking, “Why not spend the deputy money on roads?” residents also have to ask what money is legally available for those roads and what level of police service they want if the deputy arrangement changes.
Thoroughman encouraged residents with questions about the contract to contact the Sheriff’s Office directly.
And judging by Clay Township’s recent history, this probably won’t be the last time residents hear arguments about who should be wearing the badge when they call 911.
