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Budish Announces Appointments of Director of Public Safety and Justice Services, Regional Director of Corrections
Contacts:
Emily Lundgard, (216) 348-4395
CLEVELAND - Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish today announced the appointments of George Taylor to serve as Director of Public Safety and Justice Services, as well as Ken Mills to serve as Regional Director of Corrections in the Sheriff’s Department.
“Over the course of more than three decades in local law enforcement, George Taylor has accrued a wealth of knowledge that will be valuable for ensuring the safety of all Cuyahoga County residents. I am grateful that he will be joining our team,” Budish said. “I am pleased that Ken Mills will be serving as the Sheriff’s Department’s Regional Director of Corrections, a role where he will oversee both our County Jail and collaborations among regional jails.”
Taylor will oversee all activities of the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Safety and Justice Services, including Emergency Management, Custody Mediation, Regional Enterprise Data Sharing System (REDSS), and the Witness Victim Services Center. He will also collaborate with community partners and stakeholders to advance various public safety goals and initiatives.
“While it is bittersweet to be leaving my colleagues in Westerville, Ohio, I am looking forward to taking on new challenges in Northeast Ohio,” said Taylor. “I thank County Executive Budish for this opportunity and look forward to working with him in the months ahead.”
Taylor is a 34-year law enforcement veteran who currently serves as an Assistant Chief in the Westerville Police Department. Prior to that role, Taylor was Deputy Chief at the Toledo Police Department. Beginning as a patrol officer in Toledo in July 1982, Taylor worked his way up the ranks – receiving a promotion to sergeant in 1989, lieutenant in 2003, captain in 2007, and deputy chief in 2011. During his tenure, Taylor worked in various capacities, including vice/narcotics, field operations, internal affairs, and neighborhood crime prevention.
In addition to his work in the Toledo Police Department, Taylor has also served as an adjunct instructor at both Owens Community College and the University of Toledo. A graduate of Findlay University, he subsequently earned his Masters of Public Administration from Bowling Green State University.
As Regional Director of Corrections, Mills will oversee emerging collaborations and potential consolidations with jails county-wide. He will also direct the operations of the Sheriff’s Department County Jail after a long-term transition with the current, part-time County Jail Wardens. The Regional Director of Corrections position will become a self-sustaining position, with its salary offset over time by the revenue generated from jail regionalization. As Regional Director of Corrections, Mills will also ensure compliance with departmental policy and standards and assist with developing and managing the budget, among other responsibilities.
“Ken Mills has been a capable leader and effective public servant during his time here in Cuyahoga County,” said Cuyahoga County Sheriff-appointee Cliff Pinkney, who will supervise Mills in the Sheriff’s Department. “Ken has the right background and experience to successfully manage the County Jail and usher in a new age of collaboration in county-wide corrections.”
Mills was appointed Director of Public Safety and Justice Services last March. Prior to beginning his tenure with Cuyahoga County, Mills served as the Commanding Officer for the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit Cleveland where he helped monitor the U.S.-Canadian border, 130 miles of coastline, and three deep-water ports.
Mills has also helped lead more than 100 major responses and declared disasters, as well as responding to suspected anthrax, chlorine, and ricin incidents onboard vessels and at government facilities. Mills began his career in the Coast Guard in 1987. A graduate of Thomas Edison University, he later earned his MBA from the University of North Alabama in 2007.
Emily Lundgard, (216) 348-4395
CLEVELAND - Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish today announced the appointments of George Taylor to serve as Director of Public Safety and Justice Services, as well as Ken Mills to serve as Regional Director of Corrections in the Sheriff’s Department.
“Over the course of more than three decades in local law enforcement, George Taylor has accrued a wealth of knowledge that will be valuable for ensuring the safety of all Cuyahoga County residents. I am grateful that he will be joining our team,” Budish said. “I am pleased that Ken Mills will be serving as the Sheriff’s Department’s Regional Director of Corrections, a role where he will oversee both our County Jail and collaborations among regional jails.”
Taylor will oversee all activities of the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Safety and Justice Services, including Emergency Management, Custody Mediation, Regional Enterprise Data Sharing System (REDSS), and the Witness Victim Services Center. He will also collaborate with community partners and stakeholders to advance various public safety goals and initiatives.
“While it is bittersweet to be leaving my colleagues in Westerville, Ohio, I am looking forward to taking on new challenges in Northeast Ohio,” said Taylor. “I thank County Executive Budish for this opportunity and look forward to working with him in the months ahead.”
Taylor is a 34-year law enforcement veteran who currently serves as an Assistant Chief in the Westerville Police Department. Prior to that role, Taylor was Deputy Chief at the Toledo Police Department. Beginning as a patrol officer in Toledo in July 1982, Taylor worked his way up the ranks – receiving a promotion to sergeant in 1989, lieutenant in 2003, captain in 2007, and deputy chief in 2011. During his tenure, Taylor worked in various capacities, including vice/narcotics, field operations, internal affairs, and neighborhood crime prevention.
In addition to his work in the Toledo Police Department, Taylor has also served as an adjunct instructor at both Owens Community College and the University of Toledo. A graduate of Findlay University, he subsequently earned his Masters of Public Administration from Bowling Green State University.
As Regional Director of Corrections, Mills will oversee emerging collaborations and potential consolidations with jails county-wide. He will also direct the operations of the Sheriff’s Department County Jail after a long-term transition with the current, part-time County Jail Wardens. The Regional Director of Corrections position will become a self-sustaining position, with its salary offset over time by the revenue generated from jail regionalization. As Regional Director of Corrections, Mills will also ensure compliance with departmental policy and standards and assist with developing and managing the budget, among other responsibilities.
“Ken Mills has been a capable leader and effective public servant during his time here in Cuyahoga County,” said Cuyahoga County Sheriff-appointee Cliff Pinkney, who will supervise Mills in the Sheriff’s Department. “Ken has the right background and experience to successfully manage the County Jail and usher in a new age of collaboration in county-wide corrections.”
Mills was appointed Director of Public Safety and Justice Services last March. Prior to beginning his tenure with Cuyahoga County, Mills served as the Commanding Officer for the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit Cleveland where he helped monitor the U.S.-Canadian border, 130 miles of coastline, and three deep-water ports.
Mills has also helped lead more than 100 major responses and declared disasters, as well as responding to suspected anthrax, chlorine, and ricin incidents onboard vessels and at government facilities. Mills began his career in the Coast Guard in 1987. A graduate of Thomas Edison University, he later earned his MBA from the University of North Alabama in 2007.
