Media contact:  
Mary Louise Madigan: (216) 698-2521; mlmadigan@cuyahogacounty.us

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH – County Executive Chris Ronayne announced plans today to nominate Cleveland Division of Police Deputy Chief Harold Pretel to serve as the County’s next Sheriff. The position must be approved by County Council.

Deputy Chief Pretel has served the Cleveland Division of Police for nearly three decades, most recently serving as Deputy Chief of Homeland Special Operations. In this position, he is responsible for strategic, administrative, and operational functions of all specialized investigative units and tactical units. He also serves on multiple local task forces, including the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force.

Prior to his time with the City, he served as a Corrections Officer and later as a Deputy Sheriff/Detective with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputy Chief Pretel served in the United States Marine Corps as a Military Police Officer and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Baldwin-Wallace College, a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University, and is a graduate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Leadership Academy.

“Deputy Chief Pretel is an exceptional leader with a proven track record of collaboration and success in law enforcement,” said County Executive Chris Ronayne. “Deputy Chief Pretel’s experience in corrections, with the Sheriff’s department and at the Cleveland Division of Police has prepared him to take on this role and I know he has the vision and dedication we need to lead the Sheriff’s department.”