Recordpub.com - Probation director Fankhauser to retire

photograph by michael k. dakota/ 062509/ Judge John Enlow, Judge Laurie Pittman, Linda & Bob Fankhauser at Fankhauser's retirement party.

By Mike Sever

Record-Courier staff writer

Robert Fankhauser is closing his career in law enforcement. He retires Tuesday after more than 30 years as head of the Portage County Adult Probation Department.

During that time he has seen thousands of people through probation.

“The thing that makes you feel the best is when they succeed and turn their life around,” he said.

“The person has to want to do that. But the probation officer is there as a friendly reminder — ‘You have to keep doing this.’”

He said being an effective probation officer involves sometimes walking a fine line.

“It’s sort of a parenting thing, but you also have to be the enforcer of the law,” he said. “You have to lock someone up if that’s what it takes to get their attention.”

Portage County Commom Pleas Judge John Enlow has worked with Fankhauser for many years.

“Bob’s been great to work with,” Enlow said. “With jail crowding and economic problems, more and more has been dumped on the probation department.

“I can let him run the department and I don’t have to micro-manage it. He’s done a wonderful job and we will miss having him there,” Enlow said.

Portage County Common Pleas Judge Laurie Pittman said she was sad to see Fankhauser go on both personal and professional levels.

“He has always been one I can talk to,” she said. “He is a trusted friend and trusted colleague.”

She said Fankhauser has taken advantage of new technology to reduce jail populations when possible but to ensure the public is protected.

Fankhauser is only the second chief of adult probation since the department was established in 1964 by Dick Sheridan with one officer and one secretary.

Fankhauser was hired in February 1978 as assistant chief and succeeded Sheridan when he retired.

He came from the Kent Police Department where he was a patrolman and juvenile officer. He also had worked for the Ravenna Police Department from 1967 to 1971.

The probation department grew along with population and criminal cases. Now, each officer has 175 to 200 cases at any time, he said. And the department oversees some 1,800 community work service people during the course of a year.

“The caseloads are out of sight,” Fankhauser said. “Back when I first started we had five officers and two secretaries. We now have a total of 37 full-time people including 6 secretaries, and two part-time officers.”

The probation department is responsible for seeing that people convicted of a crime abide by the terms of their sentencing and probation.

The tools have changed over the years. There are now electronic tracking bracelets, alcohol detectors and other ways of keeping tabs on parolees.

“Some people need help with drugs, mental health. Others may not need anything other than a little guidance and send them on their way,” Fankhauser said.

He said “it seems like we’re getting more hardcases — those who don’t get the message and don’t care. They’ll eventually wind up in prison or county jail.”

Enlow and Pittman have selected James Eskridge, who has been the assistant chief for the past 23 years, to succeed Fankhauser. Cathy Poling will be assistant chief.

For his retirement, Fankhauser said he plans to help out in his son Mark’s campaign for municipal court judge. He’s going to spend time with his grandchildren and he said he’s going to volunteer a day here and there.

“I’m not one to just sit back and rock my time away.”