HORNER

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By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner has retired after 28 years as a member of the Portsmouth Police Department, the last 10 as its chief.

Horner said Thursday he is looking forward to what he hopes will be his next career — Scioto County sheriff. Horner filed his application of candidacy to run for the office.

“And obviously I will be going on the campaign trail as of exactly 4 p.m. tomorrow (today).”

Horner said he needs 241 signatures to get on the ballot, and he has two weeks to garner those signatures.

Horner, who is running as an independent will appear on the November ballot, where he will go head-to-head with incumbent Sheriff Marty V. Donini, a Republican, and New Boston Police Capt. Steve Goins, a Democrat.

“I’m going to campaign on what I have been able to accomplish as chief of police the last 10 years, and the last 28 years as a task force commander, as a patrol officer,” Horner said. “I’ve talked the talk and I’ve walked the walk. I’ve fought for 28 years, and I think I still have some fight in me and I want to take that fight to the people of Scioto County and fight for them.”

Horner said when he submitted his notice of resignation, he did it with a lot of mixed emotions.

“Part of me is excited. Part of me has some emotional attachment, obviously, to the men and women of the Portsmouth Police Department,” Horner said. “And it’s just time that I’ve got to move on. It has given me a renewed sense of excitement, of fighting again. With the verdict on Dr. (Paul) Volkman, it restored a lot of faith in the system for me. There’s a lot of things that have come together in the last year-and-a-half, and I’m excited. And I think the people of Scioto County are going to be excited.”

Volkman, a former pain clinic doctor, was sentenced Wednesday to four consecutive sentences of life without the possibility of parole, for the deaths of four people he prescribed opiates for.

Portsmouth Police Capt. Robert Ware has been acting as chief since Horner went on medical leave several months ago, and is one of the candidates eligible to take the chief’s test to obtain the job on a permanent basis.

Horner has been best known for his involvement in the anti-illegal prescription drug issue in Scioto County over the last several years, serving on panels created by both former Gov. Ted Strickland and current Gov. John Kasich.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.