Major Jeremy Wilkinson
Major Jeremy S. Wilkinson is a 1993 graduate of Cambridge High School, where he was a High School State Champion and All-American in wrestling. Upon graduation, Major Wilkinson enlisted in the United States Marine Corps with a guaranteed Infantry contract, where he served more than 20 years of active duty time. Major Wilkinson transitioned from the enlisted ranks to the officer ranks at Staff Sergeant upon graduating from Norwich University with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice. Serving his last tour as the Operations Officer for 1st Battalion 2nd Marines, Major Wilkinson retired as a Major select. During his time in the Marines, Major Wilkinson deployed multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as a Marine Infantryman. His awards include the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, and multiple awards with Combat Distinguishing Devices.
In 2013, Major Wilkinson accepted a position with the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office and was promoted to his current rank of Major in January 2019. He has his Master Criminal Investigator Certification.
Major Wilkinson also serves as the Commander of the SRT (Special Response Team), where he implemented and tracks training standards, improved physical standards and creates operational plans to brief the SRT of each mission and to ensure safety of its members. The SRT is utilized for drug raids, high risk warrants executions, hostage rescue, dignitary and court protective details, surveillance operations, capture high risk fugitives and other incidents that pose a substantial risk to the public or deputy safety.
Captain Sam Williams
Captain Sam Williams is a 1993 graduate of Meadowbrook High School and the Muskingum Perry Career Center Law Enforcement Program. Following graduation, he attended and completed the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in 1994. Through his lengthy career he has served with the U.S. Marshall Service, Byesville Police Department and Cambridge Police Department.
While serving as a patrolman for the Village of Byesville, Williams acted as the first advisor of the department’s Explorer post in association with the Boy Scouts of America. He was named “Officer of the Year” in 1997 and was awarded the Medal of Honor from the village for service during the flood of 1998.
In 2000, Captain Williams transferred from the Byesville Police Department to the Cambridge Police Department where he served as a patrolman until 2008. At the Cambridge Police Department, he was a member of the SWAT team; Jerry Dragison Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #10 president from 2005-2008; agent with the SENT drug task force from 2006-2008; and was instrumental in creating the “Shop with a Cop Program” that continues to this day. In addition, Captain Williams was awarded a lifesaving medal and drug buster award in 2005 as well as several other commendations.
Captain Williams joined the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office as a Narcotics Investigator in 2008. He was later promoted to Detective in 2010, Sergeant in 2011, Lieutenant in January 2016 and Captain in August 2024.
During his career with the Sheriff’s Office, Captain Williams has investigated countless felony offenses and has served as lead detective in multiple homicide investigations. He completed hundreds of hours of continued education including leadership and management training and received the Ohio Attorney General’s certification as master criminal investigator in 2010. He has been a member of Critical Incident Team and served as vice president of deputies FOP Lodge #136. He continues to serve the youth of the community by overseeing the Sheriff’s Office “Shop with a Deputy” program which provides Christmas gifts for dozens of children each December.
While at the Sheriff’s office, Williams has received a merit award for work on double homicide investigation, as well as several other merit awards for homicide investigations, sexual assault investigations, safe driving awards and firearm marksmanship awards. In 2023, he became a certified Crisis Negotiator.
Outside of work, Captain Williams has served as a Biddy League Football Coach from 2006-2016; a member of the Biddy league board; Cambridge little league coach; Cambridge YMCA youth basketball coach; Haven of Hope self-defense instructor and board member serving as president from 2014-2019; member of Grand Lodge of F.& A.M. of Ohio Guernsey Lodge 66, Member of the Scottish Rite Lodge Valley of Cambridge and Elk’s Lodge 448.