Emergency Management Director
Director - Eric WIlson
Director Eric Wilson is a graduate of Jefferson Technical College (Now Eastern Gateway Community College) with an Associate Degree in Law Enforcement as well as graduating Cum Laude from Kent State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Justice Studies. Eric is a veteran of the United States Air Force where he served in the Security Police career field. While serving he gained extensive knowledge in advanced physical security measures as well as electronic surveillance methods. He served as a Field Training Officer as well as Hostage Negotiator for the Emergency Services Team (EST). With duty assignments in South Dakota, North Dakota as well as the Republic of Panama, he also served as an auxiliary officer with the Box Elder South Dakota Police Department. Eric has worked for the Harrison County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office since 1999, attaining the rank of Sergeant. While leaving the Office in April of 2015, he still maintains a commission as a Deputy Sheriff. His duties included Patrol, DARE/School Resource Officer, Non Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) of Training, Web Site developer, Special Response Team (SRT) member, Grant Writer as well as Community Policing Liaison.
Between 2004 and 2014 Eric worked in a part time capacity for the Harrison County Health Department as an Emergency Planner and Trainer. In April of 2015 Eric was appointed Director of Homeland Security/Emergency Management for Harrison County as well as Director of 911. In his role of EMA Director, Eric is directly responsible for preparing, responding to and recovering from any natural or manmade disaster that may affect Harrison County and its residents. On a daily basis Eric supervises a part time Deputy Director as well as a part time Special Projects coordinator who assist with the development of plans, databases and Tier II reports as well as managing the CAMEO Hazardous Material Response database. As 911 director he recently implemented major changes in the way the Harrison County Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) operates. Director Wilson, with the assistance of the 911 committee, has increased the number of dispatchers by six (6), implemented over 120 hours of training for all dispatchers (including certification in Emergency Medical Dispatch, Law Enforcement operations as well as Fire Service operations), implemented Reverse 911 and contracted for the installation of Next Generation 911. Once all systems are in place, Harrison County will have accomplished all mandatory 911 items required by the State of Ohio, two (2) to three (3) years ahead of schedule.
Eric has also been contracted to provide planning and training services for the Columbiana, Harrison and Jefferson County (Ohio) Departments of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Eric serves his community as an Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate (EMT-I 85). He has been a unit instructor for the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy since 2002, and has over thirty (30) classes he can instruct. Additionally Eric is a Hazardous Material Awareness Instructor for the Ohio Fire Academy, Indirect Course Instructor for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), Red Cross and American Heart Association CPR/First Aid Instructor and numerous other instructor certifications.
Eric is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) and was one of 15 trainer’s nation wide to be recognized as a 2009 FEMA CDP Silver Level Trainer. His training has been featured in the March 2008 edition of Law Enforcement Technology Magazine. To date Eric has successfully secured over $1,000,000 in Grant Funding for Harrison County.
Eric resides in Hopedale with his wife Margie and son John Paul.