Command Staff

Chief Deputy Robert H. Gates

Major Richard Warner – Operations

Major Warner began his career with the Clinton County Sheriff’s office in January 2025.  Major Warner oversees the Investigation Division and Operations of the Sheriff’s Office.   Major Warner has over 31 years of law enforcement experience and has held various positions.  Richard grew up in the Lynchburg area and graduated from Lynchburg-Clay High School in 1993. 

In December 1993, Richard graduated from the Great Oaks Police Academy and became a certified police officer in the State of Ohio.  Upon graduation, he began his law enforcement career as a full-time Patrol Officer with the Village of Lynchburg.  In June of 1995, he was hired at the Highland County Sheriff’s Office as a Correction Officer.  In 1996, Richard transferred to dispatch as a communication officer. He was promoted to a road patrol officer in 1998 and in 2004 promoted to Sergeant.  In 2005, he was promoted to Sergeant Detective in the Investigations Division.

During his time as a detective, Richard worked with the US 23 Pipeline Narcotic Task Force and served as a Narcotic Investigator as well as investigated all other types of crime.  He was also a member of the Highland County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team Unit.   Richard has also served as an investigator with the Highland County Coroner’s Office.  

In 2013, the Sheriff at the HCSO resigned and Richard was appointed by the Highland County Republican Central Committee to serve as Sheriff through December 2014.  In 2016, Richard became the Police Chief for the Village of Lynchburg and held the position through January 2025.

Richard has received many awards during his law enforcement career.  Some of those include several Certificates of Appreciation, Letters of Accommodation, 2 Certificate of Merit’s, 2 Good Driving Awards, Officer of the year award, perfect attendance award and received the Top Cop Drug Buster Award in 2011.  In 2013, he was selected as the Outstanding Peace Officer in the State of Ohio by the Ohio Prosecuting Attorney’s Association.  Richard was nominated and received the Red Cross Heroes Award for Emergency Service in 2014.

Major Michael Wahl – Corrections

Major Michael Wahl serves as the Jail Administrator for the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, appointed by the Sheriff to oversee the daily operations and compliance standards of the jail.

Major Wahl began his law enforcement career with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office in April 1992, when he was sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff assigned to Patrol. During his tenure in Patrol, he served as a Field Training Officer before being promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant.

In 2004, Major Wahl was appointed as the Assistant Jail Administrator, and in January 2017, he was promoted to Lieutenant. In 2025, he achieved the rank of Major and was appointed as the Jail and Court Services Administrator.

In addition to his administrative duties, Major Wahl oversees Departmental Training programs, including firearms, less-lethal systems, and the Special Response Teams. He attended Wilmington College, where he completed an internship with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, and received his Peace Officer Certificate from Sinclair Community College. He is also a graduate of the Ohio Basic Corrections Academy in Greene County and the Correctional Administrator School in London, Ohio.

Major Wahl completed the FBI SWAT School and served on the Tactical Team from 1996 to 2017. He holds numerous instructor-level certifications and continues to enjoy teaching across multiple disciplines.

Throughout his distinguished career, Major Wahl has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Sheriff’s Commendation, the Merit Award, ten (10) Personal Commendations, four (4) Departmental Citations, a Life Saving Award, and the prestigious Deputy of the Year honor.

A 2013 graduate of the Clinton County Leadership Institute, Major Wahl is also an active member of several professional organizations, including:

• National Tactical Officers Association
• International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association
• National Sheriffs’ Association
• International Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Association
• Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association

He also serves on several local boards and remains committed to professional excellence, community service, and leadership development within the law enforcement community.

Major Justin A. Drake – Administration

Major Justin Drake has proudly served the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office since 1996. A lifelong Clinton County resident and graduate of Wilmington High School (Class of 1995), Major Drake began his law enforcement career shortly after graduation by attending the Sinclair Basic Police Academy, where he completed the Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Program in 1996. The following year, he completed the Corrections Basic Training for Full-Service Personnel at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and in 2003, he graduated from the Correctional Administrator Course for Full-Service Facilities at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London, Ohio.

Major Drake was first hired by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office in 1996 as a Deputy Sheriff assigned to the Corrections Division. In 1999, he transferred to the Patrol Division before returning to Corrections in 2000, where he was promoted to Shift Supervisor. The following year, he earned the rank of Sergeant and was appointed Assistant Jail Administrator. In 2004, he was promoted to Lieutenant and named Jail Administrator, taking on responsibility for the overall management and operational control of the county jail, including its personnel, resources, and inmate population.

In December 2014, Major Drake was assigned to oversee the management of Court Services and its personnel. Throughout his career, he has also served as the Registration Administrator for Clinton County and has been an active member of the Clinton County Community Corrections Board and the Ohio Jail Advisory Board.

Major Drake’s professionalism and dedication have been recognized with numerous awards, including Officer of the Year (1999, Corrections Division) and the American Red Cross Emergency Service Hero Award (2014), among many others.

On January 2, 2017, he was promoted to Captain by Sheriff Ralph D. Fizer, Jr.

On January 6, 2025, he was promoted to the rank of Major by Sheriff Douglas A. Eastes and assigned to oversee the Administrative and Communication Divisions of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.

Lieutenant Christopher Kirk – Patrol

Lieutenant Christopher Kirk joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2000 as a Deputy.  He started off in the Courthouse operating an Xray machine and metal detector.  Chris then moved to the Road Patrol Division and worked as a K-9 handler and FTO before being promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant in 2013.

Chris received his Peace Officer training at Clark State College.  Chris is the Radar Instructor as well as an Alice Instructor for the Sheriff’s Office and has received several awards throughout his career, including Deputy of the Year, Life Saving awards and an American Red Cross Emergency Service Hero Award.

In April of 2024 Chris was promoted to Road Patrol Lieutenant.  He is currently responsible for supervising a team of Road Patrol Officers, overseeing their daily operations and ensuring compliance with department policies.

Sergeant Cathern Smith – Corrections

Sergeant Smith is appointed by the Sheriff as the Assistant Jail Administrator.  She began her career with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office in 2006 as a Corrections Officer.  As she advanced, she became a Field Training Officer and was promoted to Corporal in 2018.

She attended the Greene County Basic Corrections Academy in 2011 and the OPOTA First Line Supervision Course following her first promotion. 

Sergeant Smith was Corrections Officer of the Year in 2008.  She is a recipient of (2) Life Saving Commendations. 

Sergeant Smith was promoted to her current position in 2025 by Sheriff Eastes.  She helps to oversee the ESORN program and is tasked with compliance in audits, scheduling, programming, and the day-to-day operations of the Corrections Division, its Supervisors, Officers, and inmates. 

 Dawn Stanfill – Communications