MILFORD — Anthony “Tony” Ciriello, Milford, has announced his candidacy for Kosciusko County Sheriff. A campaign kickoff will be held Thursday, Nov. 30, at Tippy Creek Winery, Leesburg.

Ciriello is currently serving as coroner for Kosciusko County, a position he was first elected to by a Republican Caucus of precinct committeemen in September 2015. He was then elected by the voters to that position in November 2016.

He is the second person to announce his candidacy on the Republican ticket for the sheriff’s position in the primary. More candidate announcements are anticipated.

“It is with great pride that I announce my intent to seek the office of sheriff of Kosciusko County on the Republican ticket in May. My campaign will not be negative, nor focus on the credentials or lack of credentials of my opponents, if I have to resort to these tactics then I do not deserve to be your sheriff,” said Ciriello.

His campaign and the campaign of his supporters will focus on his qualifications and plans for the future of the sheriff’s department. “While the aftermath of what happened to the former sheriff still lays heavily on our citizens minds, my campaign is not focused on that issue. My primary focus is on the future of the department and its personnel. The past cannot be changed as history has proven, the only change that can be made is the present but mostly the future.”

Ciriello foresees significant changes in the department and its direction. “Change is needed, moral needs to be rebuilt and trust amongst our citizens needs to be restored,” Ciriello stated.

“While my life has not been free of mistakes, like so many of us, my career has been something I have been very proud of and have worked very hard to dedicate my life to public safety and service to the citizens of this community. A lot of time the focus of law enforcement has been on the highly populated areas of our county, but just because the call volume is greater in those areas, all persons of this county deserve the attention and safety as all.

“My experience in law enforcement crosses many borders, so much more than many. My career includes being a jail officer, a fire marshal, a patrol officer, a dispatcher, a D.A.R.E. officer, a narcotics officer, a supervisor, a police chief and a death investigator. These areas of my law enforcement career have given me an insight to what is needed to be the next sheriff, with experience in all aspects of what is required from the sheriff who oversees all of the roles in today’s world.

“The position of sheriff is that of an administrator who must have an actual working knowledge of all aspects of the department and the areas of specialty that encompasses law enforcement today. Experience in all of the areas are essential to ensure that these tasks are done correctly, by the law and are provided to our citizens in the most professional manner with the best trained officers in these crucial positions.

“As a dedicated public safety official, a dedicated lifelong Republican I do not take this campaign nor the responsibilities of this campaign or the position of sheriff lightly. While some might consider this administrative position as a job, I take this position as a life. One cannot effectively do the job as sheriff, serve the people of Kosciusko County or thoroughly do the job based on position of sheriff solely as a job.”