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 is appointed by the Sheriff as the Jail Administrator and oversees the daily operations and compliance standards of the jail. He was sworn in April 1992 and served as a Deputy Sheriff assigned to Patrol. He was a Field Training Officer before being promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant. 

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

Major Wahl also oversees the Sex Offender, Arson Offender, and Violent Offender Registries for Clinton County.

Major Wahl not only serves as the Court Services Administrator, but also oversees Departmental Training, including firearms and less lethal, and Special Response Teams. He attended Wilmington College and interned with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.  He received his Peace Officer Certificate Training at Sinclair Community College.  He attended the Ohio Basic Corrections Academy in Greene County and the Correctional Administrator School in London.

He attended the FBI SWAT School and has served on the Tactical Team from 1996 to 2017. He holds numerous instructor level training certifications and enjoys teaching various disciplines.

Major Wahl has received numerous awards including the Sheriff Commendation, the Merit Award, (10) Personal Commendations, (4) Departmental Citations, a Life Saving Award, and Deputy of the Year.

Major Wahl is a graduate of the Clinton County Leadership Institute-Class of 2013. He has professional memberships with the National Tactical Officers Association, the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, National Sheriff’s Association, the International Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Association, and the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association.

Major Justin A. Drake – Administration

Major Justin Drake has been a proud member of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office since 1996. Justin’s law enforcement career began shortly after he graduated from Wilmington High School in June of 1995. Justin started attending the Sinclair Basic Police Academy in 1996 where he completed the Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Program. He then went on to attend the Corrections Basic Training for Full-Service Personnel in 1997 at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. In 2003, Justin attended the Correctional Administrator Course for Full-Service Facility at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London, Ohio.

Justin was hired by the Clinton County Sheriff in 1996 to work as a Deputy Sheriff for the Corrections Division. He transferred to the Patrol Division in 1999 and then transferred back to the Corrections Division in 2000 where he was promoted to Shift Supervisor. In 2001, Justin was promoted to Sergeant and was named Assistant Jail Administrator. In 2004, Justin was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned Jail Administrator. As Jail Administrator, Justin is responsible for the management and operational control of the jail, its resources, and the inmates housed within. Justin was also the Registration Administrator for Clinton County. In December of 2014, Justin was assigned to oversee the management of Court Services and its personnel.

Justin was awarded Officer of the Year in 1999 (Corrections Division), received an American Red Cross Emergency Service Hero award in 2014, and currently has many other awards that he has received throughout his career at the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office. Justin was a member of the Clinton County Community Corrections Board and the Ohio Jail Advisory Board.

On January 2, 2017, Lt. Drake was promoted to the rank of Captain by Sheriff Ralph D. Fizer, Jr.

On January 6, 2025, Capt. Drake was promoted to the rank of Major and assigned to oversee the Administrative Division by Sheriff Douglas A. Eastes.

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