Maurer announces retirement after 15 years as county’s top law enforcement officer
Most office doors have an engraved nameplate on the outside of the door. However, Wayne County Sheriff Thomas G. Maurer has an engraved plate at eye level on the inside of his Justice Center office door. Anyone leaving his office views the golden plate that reads: “Remember to listen.”
It was those three words of advice that Maurer said he has kept close to his heart and on his mind for the last 15 years, during his tenure as sheriff.
“Wooster Police Chief Jim Pierce gave me that advice before I started as sheriff. He told me, ‘the most important thing you can do is learn to listen. Listen to the people.’ And I have tried to heed it everyday,” the 58-year-old sheriff stated.
Looking around Maurer’s office, one can easily see the sheriff has not been sitting on his laurels but promoting Wayne County and law enforcement in general. From photographs of being sworn into office to meeting Al Roker while in Washington, D.C. for a law enforcement panel, to standing by the Budweiser horses at the fair and being recognized by area organizations, Maurer has been promoting Wayne County near and far for the last decade and a half.
And, of course, there are those family mementos and photos that he keeps closest to him on his desk. It is family that Maurer cites as his main reason for retirement.
“I am in deep respect for my family and especially my wife, Toni, for allowing me to pursue my passion and endeavors. It has taken me away from ball games, school issues and even though I’ve always tried to focus on my job here, they are number one,” Maurer said.
Early in his career as sheriff, Maurer said he knew he had a supportive wife and family. “There was a murder case when we were first married and I came home after 18-20 hours of working and she allowed me to get a couple hours of sleep and had a crisp uniform waiting for me when I awoke. There were no questions asked,” he recalled. “She’s a good wife.”
While the couple plans on spending more time together and with their children, they will be busy. They plan on acquiring some property and build their dream home. And, of course, the land will be in Wayne County.
Maurer is “a Wayne County boy” as he referred to himself. Ironically, he didn’t set out to become a sheriff or even work in the law enforcement field. After working in a local funeral home, he knew that was not the career path for him. After an interview with the then sheriff, Maurer began his employment with the department. The date was Nov. 11, 1973. From that day on, he worked through the ranks of the department until he was elected sheriff in 1996.
“I have been very fortunate to be raised in a community where my parents were respected and they respected the community also. I never wanted to bring disrespect to the Maurer name,” he remarked.
But there was that one time, when young Tom Maurer was on the other side of the law. “I threw a snowball with a rock in it at a police car and I did get caught. Let’s just say the education of what I did came from home. It was a learning experience,” he said with a smile.
Maybe it was that learning experience that led to the 15-year sheriff making a mark on Wayne County that can’t be rivaled.
“He’s a true professional and great leader,” said Martin Frantz, former Wayne County prosecutor. “Those leadership abilities came through in ways people don’t really see. The citizens of Wayne County are going to lose a man who dedicated his entire life to law enforcement and community service.”
Frantz and Maurer had similar careers and worked closely together throughout the years. As Maurer was fighting crime, Frantz would take the crime cases to court for justice.
Frantz added that the sheriff is a leader by his actions. “He could bring things back to Wayne County that others could not do.”
With Maurer’s involvement in Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission, Middle Atlantic Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and Wired Safety, Wayne County’s top law enforcement officer worked to make a difference.
While Maurer has served on panels in the nation’s capitol, Columbus and wherever he was asked to make a difference, the sheriff remains proud of the work his officers have done.
“I’ve been very proud of the work that this office has done on homicide, rape and abduction cases. We’ve been successful to resolve every homicide case that has come into this office,” he said.
So why does he choose now to retire?
“I had always thought of four terms as my goal,” he revealed. “I have fulfilled my obligation and desires for the position. I will leave it up to the next sheriff to continue on. I question, at this point, if I am prohibiting new thoughts or new people to come. It’s time for new things to be addressed and looked upon in the county.”
While the list of Maurer’s professional accomplishments is long and sometimes getting him to talk about himself is quite challenging, he is quick to reply that some of his career benchmarks are the anti-bullying programs in local schools.
“The most satisfying thing that I’ve been able to help is the anti-bullying problem. By pursuing federal grants for years and then finally into our school system, it is truly going to help break the cycle in our society,” he said.
In addition, Maurer ranks the creation of the Discipline and Rehabilitation Center (Pay to Stay) and its operating for 10 years, prior to its closing, as a money-saving option for the county and thus providing a venue for first-time offenders to serve their sentences.
The final top accomplishment noted was the near million-dollar federal grant Maurer worked on to finance Wayne County’s transition into the digital age. This equipped cars with software, laptops and other devices at no cost to taxpayers.
While all his accomplishments may sound like a self-serving political speech to garner support, Maurer shrugs off his achievements. “It’s all about the people here. I raise the sail on the ship and they power it. They are the wind.
“I am in no way a career politician; I am a career law enforcement officer. Politics got me here, but good work in law enforcement has kept here,” he proudly stated.
Maurer will remain in office until his term ends in January 2013. While there are rumors circulating who may submit a petition for the sheriff’s position, none have been filed. However, Maurer’s successor will have some big shoes to fill to follow the man who has always remembered to “listen” and do what he believes is best for Wayne County.
It was those three words of advice that Maurer said he has kept close to his heart and on his mind for the last 15 years, during his tenure as sheriff.
“Wooster Police Chief Jim Pierce gave me that advice before I started as sheriff. He told me, ‘the most important thing you can do is learn to listen. Listen to the people.’ And I have tried to heed it everyday,” the 58-year-old sheriff stated.
Looking around Maurer’s office, one can easily see the sheriff has not been sitting on his laurels but promoting Wayne County and law enforcement in general. From photographs of being sworn into office to meeting Al Roker while in Washington, D.C. for a law enforcement panel, to standing by the Budweiser horses at the fair and being recognized by area organizations, Maurer has been promoting Wayne County near and far for the last decade and a half.
And, of course, there are those family mementos and photos that he keeps closest to him on his desk. It is family that Maurer cites as his main reason for retirement.
“I am in deep respect for my family and especially my wife, Toni, for allowing me to pursue my passion and endeavors. It has taken me away from ball games, school issues and even though I’ve always tried to focus on my job here, they are number one,” Maurer said.
Early in his career as sheriff, Maurer said he knew he had a supportive wife and family. “There was a murder case when we were first married and I came home after 18-20 hours of working and she allowed me to get a couple hours of sleep and had a crisp uniform waiting for me when I awoke. There were no questions asked,” he recalled. “She’s a good wife.”
While the couple plans on spending more time together and with their children, they will be busy. They plan on acquiring some property and build their dream home. And, of course, the land will be in Wayne County.
Maurer is “a Wayne County boy” as he referred to himself. Ironically, he didn’t set out to become a sheriff or even work in the law enforcement field. After working in a local funeral home, he knew that was not the career path for him. After an interview with the then sheriff, Maurer began his employment with the department. The date was Nov. 11, 1973. From that day on, he worked through the ranks of the department until he was elected sheriff in 1996.
“I have been very fortunate to be raised in a community where my parents were respected and they respected the community also. I never wanted to bring disrespect to the Maurer name,” he remarked.
But there was that one time, when young Tom Maurer was on the other side of the law. “I threw a snowball with a rock in it at a police car and I did get caught. Let’s just say the education of what I did came from home. It was a learning experience,” he said with a smile.
Maybe it was that learning experience that led to the 15-year sheriff making a mark on Wayne County that can’t be rivaled.
“He’s a true professional and great leader,” said Martin Frantz, former Wayne County prosecutor. “Those leadership abilities came through in ways people don’t really see. The citizens of Wayne County are going to lose a man who dedicated his entire life to law enforcement and community service.”
Frantz and Maurer had similar careers and worked closely together throughout the years. As Maurer was fighting crime, Frantz would take the crime cases to court for justice.
Frantz added that the sheriff is a leader by his actions. “He could bring things back to Wayne County that others could not do.”
With Maurer’s involvement in Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission, Middle Atlantic Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and Wired Safety, Wayne County’s top law enforcement officer worked to make a difference.
While Maurer has served on panels in the nation’s capitol, Columbus and wherever he was asked to make a difference, the sheriff remains proud of the work his officers have done.
“I’ve been very proud of the work that this office has done on homicide, rape and abduction cases. We’ve been successful to resolve every homicide case that has come into this office,” he said.
So why does he choose now to retire?
“I had always thought of four terms as my goal,” he revealed. “I have fulfilled my obligation and desires for the position. I will leave it up to the next sheriff to continue on. I question, at this point, if I am prohibiting new thoughts or new people to come. It’s time for new things to be addressed and looked upon in the county.”
While the list of Maurer’s professional accomplishments is long and sometimes getting him to talk about himself is quite challenging, he is quick to reply that some of his career benchmarks are the anti-bullying programs in local schools.
“The most satisfying thing that I’ve been able to help is the anti-bullying problem. By pursuing federal grants for years and then finally into our school system, it is truly going to help break the cycle in our society,” he said.
In addition, Maurer ranks the creation of the Discipline and Rehabilitation Center (Pay to Stay) and its operating for 10 years, prior to its closing, as a money-saving option for the county and thus providing a venue for first-time offenders to serve their sentences.
The final top accomplishment noted was the near million-dollar federal grant Maurer worked on to finance Wayne County’s transition into the digital age. This equipped cars with software, laptops and other devices at no cost to taxpayers.
While all his accomplishments may sound like a self-serving political speech to garner support, Maurer shrugs off his achievements. “It’s all about the people here. I raise the sail on the ship and they power it. They are the wind.
“I am in no way a career politician; I am a career law enforcement officer. Politics got me here, but good work in law enforcement has kept here,” he proudly stated.
Maurer will remain in office until his term ends in January 2013. While there are rumors circulating who may submit a petition for the sheriff’s position, none have been filed. However, Maurer’s successor will have some big shoes to fill to follow the man who has always remembered to “listen” and do what he believes is best for Wayne County.
Published: August 18, 2011
