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. Over the course of his career, he has served with the Byesville Police Department, and the Cambridge Police Department.
While serving as a patrolman with the Village of Byesville, Williams became the first advisor for the department’s Explorer Post in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America. In 1997, he was named “Officer of the Year,” and in 1998 he received the Medal of Honor for his service during the village flood.
In 2000, Williams transferred to the Cambridge Police Department, where he served as a patrolman until 2008. During his time there, he was a member of the SWAT team, served as president of the Jerry Dragison Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #10 from 2005 to 2008, and worked as an agent with the S.E.N.T. Drug Task Force from 2006 to 2008. He also played a key role in establishing the “Shop with a Cop” program, which continues to benefit the community today. In 2005, he was awarded both a Lifesaving Medal and a Drug Buster Award, along with several other commendations.
Williams joined the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office in 2008 as a Narcotics Investigator. He was promoted to Detective in 2010, Sergeant in 2011, Lieutenant in January 2016, and Captain in August 2024.
Throughout his tenure with the Sheriff’s Office, Captain Williams has investigated numerous felony cases and served as the lead detective in multiple homicide investigations. He has completed hundreds of hours of advanced training in leadership and management and earned certification as a Master Criminal Investigator from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in 2010. He has also been a member of the Critical Incident Team and served as Vice President of Deputies FOP Lodge #136. In 2023, he became a certified Crisis Negotiator.
During his career, he has received multiple merit awards, including recognition for his work on homicide and sexual assault investigations, as well as awards for safe driving and firearm marksmanship.
He is a member of Guernsey Lodge No. 66 of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, the Scottish Rite Valley of Cambridge, and the Elks Lodge No. 448. Captain Williams also serves on the Guernsey County Board of Developmental Disabilities, was inducted into the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame of the Mid-East Career and Technology Centers, and is a State Certified Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy Instructor.