Sheriff Lavender's Story and Service to this Community

 

Deputy George W. Lavender Jr.
Deputy George W. Lavender Jr. Circa 1976 Sheriff George W. Lavender Jr. Circa 2021

Dear Citizens of Ross County;

Since becoming your Sheriff in 2009, I have been overwhelmed by the out- pouring of support from you, the citizens of Ross County. My staff and I are working diligently to fulfill my promise of returning Faith in your Ross County Sheriffs Office.

My command staff agrees that this web site is a great place to stay in contact with you, the citizens of Ross County keeping you informed of the new and innovative ways we will be bringing law enforcement services to Ross County.

Since becoming Sheriff I have renewed many friendships and have enjoyed making many new ones, for those I have yet to meet, I want to tell you more about myself, background and family.

My Name is George William Lavender Jr. I was born on November 29th, 1954 to Helen and George Lavender. My parents were raised in Wellston, Ohio but moved to Ross County due to my father’s employment with the Veterans Administration Medical Center. My dad was a police officer there, and passed his love of public service to me.

I am a lifelong resident of Ross County, attending and graduating from Union-Scioto (Unioto) High School in May of 1973. My parents instilled in me at an early age the virtue of a strong work ethic and I started working at the age of 12. I, like many youths started myself a neighborhood lawn mowing business and was mowing between 25 and 30 lawns a week. I also bailed hay during cutting season for local farmers.

I was very active in sports during my junior high and high school years, playing football, basketball, and running track. I continued in sports until my senior year in High School when I elected to forego sports and enter into the work place. 

I started at Buckeye Mart in 1973 as a stock boy. I was promoted thru the company ranks from manager trainee to the store
operations manager. I worked at Buckeye Mart until 1976 when I had the opportunity to follow my dream and was hired as a Deputy Sheriff with the Ross County Sheriffs Office.

I am a 35 year veteran of the Ross County Sheriffs Office and during those years of service I attended numerous law enforcement courses in various fields of modern law enforcement methods. My career leading up to my election prepared me to become your Ross County Sheriff.

I started at the sheriffs office as a dispatcher / jailer and worked at those jobs during my first year, while I attended Ohio Basic Peace Officer School in the evenings. Upon obtaining my Peace Officer certification I was promoted to court officer, where I worked for the next Two and one half years under the late Honorable Judge William Sammons.

After leaving the court officers job I started my career in the road patrol division. I found while working in the road patrol division that I really could make a difference in peoples lives as a first responder. I took great pride being a part of assisting people who have been traumatized and were vulnerable after becoming the victim of a crime. I learned how I could make a difference in peoples lives in these times by giving guidance and information on what was needed to pick up the pieces of their lives. I learned how to investigate and assist in prosecuting the persons who had created these problems. 

Due to my love for this job as a road patrol officer I elected to stay in this division, passing on a chance to work in the Investigative Division, opting instead to work towards promotions in the Road Division. Under Sheriff Knott I was promoted to Sergeant. Under the current administration I was promoted to Lieutenant and finally Major. I was in charge of the Road Patrol Division, Emergency Response Team and Water Rescue Unit. I held these positions until I retired in September of 2005.

After my retirement I continued working for the Ross County SheriffsOffice, on a grant through the Ross County Child Enforcement Agency doing civil process work this lasted until October 2006.

Lastly but most importantly I have been married to Jeanne (Chapman) Lavender for 20 years and we have three grown children Dustin Lavender, Shay Daily and Jason Daily. I was a member of the Christ in Christian Union Church as a youth and have been a member of Chillicothe Baptist Church since 1990. I am a member of the Gideons Organization and my wife Jeanne is an auxiliary member.

My God and my family have been and continue to be the driving force and centers of my life. Through them I am given the strength, courage and wisdom to continue to perform the duties of this great office.

 

Yours in Service