Ohio public safety chief leaves office

COLUMBUS (AP) — The man who leads Ohio’s public safety forces and served for many years as the state watchdog stepped down from his post today.

Republican Gov. John Kasich announced the departure of Tom Charles, 70, as Ohio Department of Public Safety director. Today was a key retirement benefit deadline under state pension reform.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent John Born was sworn in as Charles’ replacement, with Patrol Col. Paul Pride named to Born’s job.

Charles may be tasked with monitoring ethics at Kasich’s job-creation office, JobsOhio, a state employee with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press. The privatized entity laid out new ethics guidelines Tuesday. The worker was not authorized to release the information and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Before he was appointed by Kasich to lead the public safety department in 2010, Charles served for 13 years as Ohio’s inspector general, investigating corruption and wrongdoing inside state government.