Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer reached some sort of pact recently, it appears, to keep secrets.

Overmyer, at least, acknowledges the transgression. The sheriff in June accused his lead detective — Sean P. O’Connell — of “workplace misconduct,” but he’s refused to detail the alleged misconduct.

Making matters worse, Overmyer says he asked an outside agency to investigate the detective’s behavior after he suspended O’Connell, but he won’t disclose the name of that agency.

Secret investigations of secret allegations are what dictators do, not elected sheriffs. Overmyer has an obligation to disclose the allegation, and also disclose the agency investigating it.

DeWine, too, has an absolute obligation to stop transgressions like this, and fully investigate them. But he’s too handicapped by his own secrets and his own incompetence to the point where he encourages bad behavior…

…The attorney general doesn’t appear to be seeking justice, but instead intends to create a narrative to protect public officials at the expense of families…

Enough is enough.

Voters would be wise to boot both men from office, and DeWine should be barred from the governor’s mansion, forever.

In the meantime, however, it’s time for the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene.

 

The Sandusky Register