For the past 34 years, he has served the Sheriff’s Department as either a fulltime deputy or special deputy. And now, Richland County Jail Administrator Joe Masi has been promoted to the rank of major and has assumed the position of Chief Deputy effective Dec. 5.
Masi’s duties will include oversight of the Law Enforcement Division and the Corrections Division, while also serving as the Public Information Officer.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges of the job and looking forward to working with the Law Enforcement Division and the Corrections Division to enhance training, professionalism, and interactions with the community,” Masi said.
His relationship with the Sheriff’s Department began in 1980 when he was 18 years old. While at the Sheriff’s Department, he rose to the rank of captain in charge of the Patrol Bureau.
After nine years, he worked for Prosecutor James J. Mayer as an investigator until 1997.
Thereafter, he worked for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections as a warden assistant, and he returned to the Sheriff’s Department as Captain of the Corrections Division in March 2011.
Masi will transfer to the Sheriff’s office on Monday where he will be stationed; however, he noted, “I will spend a portion of my time at the jail. I have three years invested in the operations here at the jail and I want to continue overseeing the operations here.”
He emphasized how fortunate he is to work with a great staff and a great department as a whole.
Sheriff Steve Sheldon commented, “I’ve known Joe for over 30 years and have always respected him. He’s done a god job in the different roles that he’s filled and he has a huge background in the department—he’s the complete package.”
Masi is supported by his wife Patty Masi, who shares Masi’s passion for law enforcement as she serves as a diversion officer, investigator, and employee within the prosecutor’s office. They have three children: Katie Stephenson, Michelle Stephenson, and Giovanni Masi.
“I’m very thankful for my family,” Masi said. “They’ve been patient with all of the hours I’ve put in and have always been supportive of me.”
