Marc Fields: Why I’m running for Kenton Co. jailer

The following op-ed is written by Kenton Co. Jailer Marc Fields, a candidate for the office on May 17

My fellow Kenton Countians, 

In April of 2018, I was asked by Kenton County Jailer Terry Carl to join his leadership team as Chief Deputy of Administration. After 31 years of serving the citizens of Erlanger, I saw this as another opportunity to serve the citizens of Kenton County and I accepted this offer. 

When Jailer Carl decided to retire in December of 2020, I was asked by Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann to serve as Jailer. I again accepted this offer and was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Jailer Carl. I am still humbled by both offers and I am honored to have been chosen and supported by these long time public servants.

My entire adult life has been spent in service to the citizens of our country, our commonwealth and Kenton County. Six days after graduating Covington Holmes High School, I arrived at the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina to begin an adventure that has led me here today. 

I have been blessed to have a supportive wife, Sandi, be by my side for this journey. We have been married 43 years, have two sons, Joshua and Joel, 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, all residents of this great county. 

I began my criminal justice career in 1982 as a police dispatcher. In 1983 I began my policing career, graduating from the Department of Criminal Justice Basic Academy and becoming a University of Kentucky Police Officer, serving the university until 1986.

In 1986 I returned to Kenton County, being hired by the City of Erlanger as a police officer. I served with the City of Erlanger for 31 years, 3 years as a patrol officer, 3 years as a major case investigator, 6 years as a patrol sergeant, 2 years as a patrol Lieutenant, 2 years as Assistant Police Chief, 12 years as Police Chief and 4 years as City Administrator.  During my time with Erlanger I attended over 2,000 hours of training, including graduating from the FBI National Academy Session #177.

Every step of my career has been a learning experience for the next, preparing me for the next position. Each position has come with more responsibility and public accountability. I am proud to say, I have succeeded in each one.  

During my career, I have been blessed to have worked with many talented team members and the jail personnel we have here are some of the best.  Here are some of our accomplishments.

With assistance from the court system and outside agencies, we have expanded on the substance abuse and re-entry programs. In fact last year alone, we released over 500 inmates to such programs. We have expanded job readiness training, educational opportunities and behavior recognition classes for inmates to assist them in becoming productive members of our community.  

We have created a team that focuses on reducing  jail population and have implemented strategies that have succeeded (transferred over 600 inmates last year to other facilities) saving the county tax payer dollars. We have expanded training opportunities for our staff, including sending command staff members to leadership training at the Southern Police Institute, Butler Tech Community College and International Law Enforcement Education and Training Association. We have implemented a performance enhancement program that will continually encourage our staff to improve.  

Use of force incidents and medical care account for the majority of lawsuits within a corrections facility.  To address this we have implemented policies and tools that have reduced the number of use of force incidents from 963 in 2020 to 707 in 2021.  Our use of the restraint safety chair has also decreased, 218 in 2020 to 137 in 2021. We have implemented an intake nurse, follow up nurse and psychiatric nurse practitioner to address physical health, mental health and substance abuse issues within 24 hours of intake. These were all added through grant monies at no cost to county tax payers.

We are all experiencing issues with staffing.  In order to assist with this, we have expanded our community work program for inmates. This program will be available to every city in Kenton County and will provide some assistance to their staffing needs. This program also allows the inmates a small income from the state, time off of their sentences and most of all gives them a sense of belonging and self worth. 

The jail is the largest department of county government, has the largest operating budget and is the one that is responsible for the care, custody and control of those charged with a criminal offense in our county. Friends, my career is an open book. I have the leadership experience and proven track record to handle these responsibilities in a conservative and just manner. 

I am proud to have received the endorsement of many people and organizations, including; Judge Executive Kris Knochlemann, our county commissioners, Joe Nienaber, Beth Sewell & Jon Draud, Sheriff Charles Kornzenborn, Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders, County Attorney Stacy Tapke, County Clerk Gabbrielle Summe, PVA Darlene Plummer, Circuit Clerk John Middleton, Boone County Sheriff Mike Helmig, Campbell County Sheriff Mike Jansen, Fraternal Order of Police Lodges #20 & #55 and many other state and local officials.  

I wish to continue to serve as your jailer to continue the operational path we have set.  I ask for your vote so we can continue to make Kenton County an even safer and better place to live.