MANSFIELD, Ohio–Graduates of Mansfield’s Veterans Court were congratulated, and retiring Veterans Court Probation Officer Fred Brubach was honored during a luncheon on Wednesday afternoon at the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 32 in Mansfield.
The veterans court is one of three special docket courts introduced by Judge Jerry Ault. Established in 2009, it was the first of its kind in Ohio and third or fourth in the nation, said Ault.
“It’s a special docket. We only allow veterans into it. We deal with misdemeanor offenses, many times addiction,” said Ault. “We get them in whatever appropriate treatment there is that would work with their addiction or any other problem.”
Veterans courts were established across the nation to assist those that have served their country by addressing, in a therapeutic manner, issues unique to those returning from combat.
The 179th Airlift Wing Director of Psychological Health Vivian Winters works with the veterans in the program. She said, “Not only do our veterans have the day-to-day issues that we all do, but you take on the issues that come with deployment and some of the experiences they have, and so I think just focusing on those special issues has been a great benefit.”
“I think it’s a wonderful program for individuals to get the treatment they need so they don’t reoffend,” she said.
Ault noted that program participants must report to court as well as probation on a regular basis until their program is complete.
Charles Frey, who served in the U. S. Air Force from 1964 to 1968, was one of five graduates presented with a challenge coin at the event. Frey noted that the program was helpful to him. “It’s different than other drug programs,” he said. “I went to see the judge once a month, went to drug counseling at the VA clinic a couple of times a week, went to AA meetings.”
Ault noted that working with veterans court differed from the other courts. “You get more respect from veterans, across the board. They are used to taking orders and when you order them into a program, they are much more likely to complete it,” Ault said.
He said the program is very successful, noting that recidivism for those completing the program is very low.
The 179th Wing Commander Col. Gary McCue said he was a strong supporter of the program. “Programs like this are needed,” he said. “We’re very grateful to have it.”
Brubach, who has been a probation officer with the veterans court for the past five years, said the program has processed at least 150 veterans. “I hope that I have helped them half as much as they’ve helped me,” he said.
Brubach, who is retiring, was honored at the event. He said the honor was unexpected. “It’s about the vets; it’s not about me,” he said.
Veteran Mentor Coordinator Lori Fourhman read a letter from a program graduate thanking Brubach for his assistance and noting the positive effect both Brubach and the veterans court had on his life.
Retired Brig. Gen. Richard Green addressed the crowd and honored each graduate as well as Brubach with his own personal challenge coin.
Green noted that many don’t understand the challenge veterans face in reintegrating into society after deployment. “It’s a much tougher challenge than most people might recognize; it’s a much tougher challenge than veterans themselves realize,” he noted.
