Former sheriff Daniel C. McClelland died on 4/14/21 after a year long courageous battle with brain cancer. “Sheriff McClelland served the residents of Geauga County for 44 years with the last 13 years proudly serving as sheriff. McClelland began working in the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office in 1976. He was promoted to sergeant in 1983, then to lieutenant in 1992 and chief deputy in 2000. He was appointed as sheriff in 2003. McClelland then won elections in 2004, 2008 and 2012. He earned his degree in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Akron and was a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He retired at the end of 2016 after announcing two years earlier that he wouldn’t seek reelection. When McClelland retired at the end of 2016, so did K9 Midge, the rat terrier-Chihuahua mix that held a Guinness World Record as the smallest certified police dog in the world. McClelland’s honors include Leadership Geauga’s 2014 Emerald Leader award, Chardon Alumni Hall of Fame inductee for lifetime and 2011 Recipient of the DARE Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award for the State of Ohio. He leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Beverly (nee Groh) and their children, Daniel (Jennifer) McClelland, Kelly (Dan) Slattery and Andy (Faith) McClelland. Hours after his passing, his beloved K9 partner Midge, age 16, also passed and will be buried along side him. Donations can be made to the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office K9 Fund at 12450 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024.
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