EATON — The Preble County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the career of retiring Dep. Kevin Caplinger on Tuesday, Aug. 9.
According to Sheriff Mike Simpson, Dep. Caplinger began working with the PCSO over 27 years ago. “Kevin started in the jail fresh out of college,” Simpson said in recognizing Caplinger.
“This afternoon we gather to say thank you to Deputy Kevin Caplinger,” Simpson told those in attendance. “Kevin will officially retire at the end of the month after 27-plus years at the sheriff’s office and serving the citizens of Preble County. He began his career with us as a corrections officer in January 1995. And that was about three or four months after we opened the jail. In September 1997, Kevin was promoted to Deputy Sheriff and he was assigned to the road patrol.”
According to Simpson, Dep. Caplinger remained on road patrol until he was reassigned as a detective in the Investigation Section in November 2006. “In December 2009, Kevin was reassigned to road patrol and he took the position at Lakengren after Gasper Township established a police district out there, patrolling Lakengren 40 hours a week.”
Caplinger will remain in the Lakengren patrol position until his retirement at the end of August.
Caplinger received the Officer of the Year Award for road patrol investigations in both 2004 and 2009 and received safe driving award in 2010. During his career, he also received advanced training in technical crash investigation.
“On behalf of everyone at the sheriff’s office we congratulate Kevin on his retirement and we extend a sincere thank you to him for his service to the citizens of Preble County,” Simpson said. “And we wish you the very best and hope that all the fishing that you do in the future will be good.”
Simpson presented Caplinger a Distinguished Service Award for his 27-plus years of service and dedication to the Sheriff’s Office and to the residence of Preble County. State. Rep Rodney Creech recognized him on behalf of the General Assembly, and Preble County Commissioner Adam Craft presented a commission proclamation recognizing him on his retirement.
“I just want to thank everyone for coming. It was kind of a tough decision to make, to retire and be done. I’m going to work a little part time at Kettering Hospital. But other than that, I plan on doing a lot of fishing and golfing, and maybe camping,” Caplinger said.
