The view from the Idea Center

Voters earlier this month approved a change to the Cuyahoga County charter that will take Interim Sheriff David Schilling’s job right out from under him – unless there’s intervention from higher-ups.

That intervention appears to be forthcoming.

The charter amendment’s major goal was to give the sheriff more autonomy and greater authority over the troubled jail, which is mired in controversies involving inmate deaths, poor living conditions and allegations of guards’ excessive use of force.

But the charter amendment also boosted the requirements for the sheriff’s job.  The sheriff now must have a four-year degree in any field or a two-year degree in criminal justice or law enforcement. 

Schilling doesn’t have either of those, but he’s vowing to rectify that.

He told the county’s Public Safety & Justice Affairs Committee Tuesday he’s already talked to staff at Cuyahoga Community College about their criminal justice degree program.

“I have a student ID number, so I'm in the process of registering for Tri-C,” he said. He couldn’t say when he expects to graduate.

Schilling’s hustle appears to have helped him, at least with the committee. Its members voted in favor of extending his appointment for a year while he gets his degree.

What also could help him is his incumbency. Cuyahoga County has had four sheriffs in nine years, and at least one council member seemed reluctant to continue the churn. District 5 Councilman Michael Gallagher, the committee’s chairman, said the goal of the search is to get someone in the post for the long-term.

“To change all that right now I think would be counterproductive,” he said, “ so the hope is, is that he gets those qualifications and we can move forward if he performs.”

See you bright and early tomorrow morning on the radio,
Amy Eddings

Need to KnOH

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Your ideas

Interim Sheriff Schilling is heading back to school while also keeping the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department running.  Are you working full-time while trying to get a college degree? How do you juggle online courses or night classes with work and family obligations? Call us at  (216) 916-6476 or comment on  our Facebook page. We'll feature some of your thoughts and comments here in Noon(ish) and on Morning Edition.

Yesterday, we asked if having movies made in Cleveland was worth the temporary inconvenience and traffic nightmares. Most of you sound happy to have Hollywood in town, but we could all use an earlier heads up on the resulting road closures. "My teen daughter is a local filmmaker. The inconveniences are a problem, but overall this is great for the area's future! I hope the film industry continues to grow here. Maybe more notice for drivers would help the situation," said Vincent O'Keefe in our Public Square Facebook group.