Auxillary Division

The Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office Auxiliary is a volunteer organization consisting of Special Deputies and Communication Officers. The Special Deputies are certified peace officers through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, whose training consists of over 600 hours as required by the state. Each year the Special Deputies receive additional training to maintain their certification.

Members of the Auxiliary provide additional support to the 24-hour 7-day a week operation of the Sheriff’s Office. The Special Deputies work with full time employees responding to calls for service, taking reports and making arrests. The Special Deputies work a number of events throughout Van Wert County that include the Van Wert County Fair, Apple Festival, Rib Fest, Wren Days, Delphos Canal Days and various events in the county schools and Christmas with Kids. Special Deputies also provide traffic control for parades during festivals in Van Wert County.

CHRISTMAS WITH KIDS
Each year the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office Auxiliary conducts a special program to help Van Wert County Children.

The Christmas with Kids Program is where Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office Employees take children whose families are experiencing difficult financial times, shopping for Christmas gifts. The children are able to pick items that they want, with items of need also being chosen. The families are Van Wert County residents and are referred to the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office through the Salvation Army.

The goals of the Christmas with Kids Program are to help provide a happy Christmas Season for the children involved in the program and their parents and give the children a positive experience with Law Enforcement.

Each year the success of the Christmas with Kids Program is in large part due to the donations of the Van Wert County Community. Businesses and private citizens alike donate money to the Christmas with Kids Program each year. The children who are a part of Christmas with Kids Program are able to spend $100.00 towards items they want and need.

Without the tremendous support of the Van Wert County Community for the last 20 years the success of the Christmas with Kids Program would not be possible. In 2013, the Christmas with Kids Program was again able to take over 100 kids shopping, thanks to the generous donations from Van Wert County Businesses and citizens.

To continue the success of the Van Wert County Christmas with Kids Program and help make this Christmas a special time for children whose families are experiencing difficult financial times, please consider making a donation.

Please make checks payable to the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office Auxiliary. Checks can be mailed to Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, 113 N. Market Street Van Wert, Ohio 45891 or dropped off at this address. For further information or if you have any questions, please contact Sheriff Tom Riggenbach at (419)238-3866 or by email attriggenbach@vanwertcountysheriff.com or visit us on Facebook at Van Wert County Christmas with Kids.

I want to thank everyone who has supported the Christmas with Kids Program over the years. Also, Thank You in advance for supporting this year’s Christmas with Kids Program.

Thomas M. Riggenbach
Van Wert County Sheriff

HOW IT BEGAN

Sheriff Wilmer Clay started the Auxiliary in 1953. The first Captain of the Auxiliary was Frank Friemoth. The first Lieutenant of the Auxiliary was Wayne Pollock. At the time, members of the Auxiliary were Veterans of Foreign War post members.

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