With the May 5 primary election approaching, Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman is working to clear up confusion about a police levy that voters already rejected once—and why it’s back again.
Last fall, voters turned down the Washington Township Safety/Police levy by a vote of 312 to 441. According to the sheriff, part of the problem may have been how the issue was presented on the ballot.
Instead of being listed as a renewal, which would have kept costs the same, the levy appeared as a replacement. That wording can sometimes signal a change or increase, even when that wasn’t the intent.
Now, the levy is back for another vote—and this time, there’s a key difference.
What’s Changing This Time
The measure on the May ballot proposes a 3-mill levy, which is actually lower than the 4 mills residents have paid in previous years.
In simple terms: if approved, the levy would cost less than what many residents were already paying before.
Why the Levy Matters
Some residents have asked why the levy is even needed, since the sheriff’s office already patrols the county.
The answer comes down to dedicated coverage.
The levy funds additional deputies who are assigned specifically to Washington Township. Without it, those extra deputies go away—and the township would rely only on general county patrol.
A Look at the Numbers
Washington Township isn’t exactly quiet.
In 2024 and 2025 alone, deputies responded to 6,081 calls for service in the township. Countywide, the sheriff’s office handled more than 42,000 calls during that same time.
Despite that workload, the sheriff’s office operates with just 15 road deputies covering the entire county during normal staffing.
Those deputies are split across three shifts—and that number can shrink even further.
Court-ordered inmate transports alone pulled deputies off the road 183 times over the past two years. Add in days off, sick time, and vacations, and there are moments when only one or two deputies are available to handle calls across the entire county.
What Township Deputies Actually Handle
The deputies assigned to Washington Township aren’t just sitting idle. Between 2024 and 2025, they handled:
- 231 warrants and civil papers
- 5 shootings
- 20 calls involving shots fired or a person with a gun
- 25 burglaries in progress
- 32 prowler complaints
- 119 fire-related calls
They’ve also been responsible for removing a significant amount of illegal drugs from the area.
Response Times Could Change
Right now, having deputies stationed in the township makes a big difference.
On average, Washington Township deputies responded to calls in about four minutes.
If the levy fails and those deputies are no longer assigned there, response times will likely increase—especially when the nearest available deputy could be tied up on the other side of the county.
For residents in areas like State Route 239, that delay could be significant.
Sheriff: It’s About Keeping Coverage
According to Sheriff Thoroughman, the issue comes down to maintaining the level of service residents are used to.
Without the levy, Washington Township loses its dedicated deputies—and response times, coverage, and overall service could all take a hit.
Town Hall Scheduled
To answer questions and give residents a chance to learn more, the sheriff has scheduled a town hall meeting on April 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington Township Fire Station.
Voters will ultimately decide the levy’s fate when they head to the polls on May 5.
