Legacy of Randall Wellington: Productivity, honesty, respect

Mahoning County Sheriff Randall Wellington’s decision to hang up his badge and not seek re-election in 2012 will end four decades of the soft-spoken but firm leader’s tenure as chief law enforcer of the county and its largest city, Youngstown.

Wellington, 78, became a Youngstown cop in 1957 and worked his way up the ranks to the chief’s post, which he served honorably during one of the most violent eras on city streets.

Wellington became sheriff by appointment in 1999 at a time of scandal and tumult in all levels of county government. He replaced the disgraced Phil Chance, convicted by a federal jury of racketeering crimes.

Wellington almost instantly succeeded in restoring dignity and respect to the office. He managed the department effectively through extremely tough financial times, having to lay off critical staff during periods of revenue uncertainty in county government. And while The Vindicator did not always agree with his decisions or management style, he did bring achievements of which he and this community can be proud.

His support from his constituency has been consistently clear and strong. He handily won election in 2000 and easily won re-election in 2004 and 2008.

SHERIFF’S ACHIEVEMENTS

He listed development of the department’s senior-citizens unit and the day-reporting program as among his proudest accomplishments.

The day-reporting program, initiated in 2006, enables misdemeanor offenders to serve time doing community service rather than being incarcerated. That program that has saved county coffers about $1 million.

Wellington, a proud veteran of the Korean War, also can take pride in innovations in efficiency and service to the department, such as providing police services in Canfield Township and negotiating contracts with both the federal marshal’s service and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices.

Most importantly, Wellington restored honesty and respect to a department that had been tarnished by a history of shoddy and seedy leadership through much of the final quarter of the 20th century.

When first becoming sheriff in 1999, one of the community’s pre-eminent community activist groups — ACTION — gave him a standing ovation when he signed a pledge to ferret out any and all corruption in the ranks.

That show of respect has followed him throughout his tenure. We wish Wellington well in his final 14 months on the job, and we wish him health and happiness when his productive 55-year law-enforcement career ends in 2013.