Cuyahoga County Sheriff Bob Reid resigns at request of county executive Ed FitzGerald

CLEVELAND - Cuyahoga County Sheriff Bob Reid has resigned at the request of county executive Ed FitzGerald.

Reid sent an email to the sheriff's department employees about leaving his post. A sheriff's spokesman said Reid will not be commenting.

FitzGerald spokeswoman Nicole Dailey Jones said Thursday the resignation was requested as part of an overall review as FitzGerald reaches the midpoint of his four-year term.

NewsChannel5 was faxed a copy of Reid's email:

All,

County Executive Ed FitzGerald has asked for my resignation effective the end of January 2013. Is has been my honor to lead this organization for the past 3 1/2 years. I believe I'll leave this organization much better than when I first took office and will value the friendships I've made.

Thank you for your dedication and keep up the fine work.

Sheriff Bob Reid

"We are taking the time to review all of our leadership across all departments. After two years of work, it provides an opportunity for members of the leadership team and our administration to see where things stand and to make decisions in order to make our government work effectively as possible," explained FitzGerald in a 3:30 p.m. news release. "The halfway point of the administration often results in personnel changes - Clerk of Courts Gerald Fuerst decided to announce his retirement from public service last week, and other potential leadership changes may be announced in the near future."

FitzGerald made no note of him requesting Reid to resign, only saying "Sheriff Bob Reid announced his resignation today and we respect and recognize his long commitment to public service in Cuyahoga County."

The interim sheriff will be Frank Bova, former police chief of Warrensville Heights. Bova was hired as a full-time captain with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department in August 2010. He is a third generation police officer and 1978 graduate of St. Edward High School. Before he came to Warrensville and Cuyahoga County, Bova was a detective with Cleveland police for 16 years.

Reid was sworn in as the county's sheriff in May 2009. Priorities when Reid took office included looking into the financial problems facing the department and getting up to speed on outstanding lawsuits and grievances.

Prior to Reid taking the position with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department, he served as a police officer in Bedford before becoming chief there 14 years later, in 1989. In 2000, Reid retired to become city manager.