Lorain County Phil Stammitti announced in a Dec. 28 news release that Capt. Richard D. Thomas will have a new job.
“It is with pleasure that I announce the full-time hiring of Capt. Richard D. Thomas from an intermittent employee to the director of corrections at the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office effective Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024,” Stammitti said in the release.
Capt. Jack G. Hammond, current director of corrections, will retire in March 2024 after 45 years of service.
“This will give Capt. Hammond some time to acclimate Capt. Thomas as director of corrections at the Lorain County Jail and Sheriff’s Office,” Stammitti said.
Thomas has been involved in law enforcement for over 45 years, having started his career at the North Ridgeville Police Department in 1979.
Until recently, Thomas served as the commander of the Lorain County Community College Police Academy.
So far, 3 candidates to vie for Lorain County sheriff in 2024
Earlier this year, Thomas announced he was running for sheriff.
"I can tell you that Capt. Thomas is very educated, hardworking and dedicated to whatever job he does and has the ability to get the job done," Stammitti said. "He also served prior at the Lorain County Sheriff's Office in 2016 as the director of law enforcement."
Thomas is a graduate of the FBI's National Academy, the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police school, Police Executive Leadership College, is a Certified Law Enforcement Executive graduate and has attended many other training seminars and workshops, the sheriff said.
He holds a bachelor of science in management from Myers College.
