Barbecue feast a way to thank law enforcement for serving Ashland County

Officers feasted on pounds upon pounds of barbecued delicacies Monday, thanks to their friends with the Ashland County Prosecutor's Office.

The dinner was a special thanks from the county's legal staff on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, according to Chris Tunnell, the county's prosecutor.

Shortly after Thanksgiving, they saw the date on the calendar and started talking about the idea of throwing a celebration.

"We couldn't recall anybody ever doing anything for it," Tunnell said.

The offices work together on cases

Nearly every criminal case that makes its way to the courtroom requires the help of law enforcement officers. Without them, the prosecutors wouldn't have any work to do.

"I've said throughout my career that I would love to not have a job," Tunnell said. "That would be great, but it's not going to happen."

People will continue breaking the law, and law enforcement will keep sending paperwork to the prosecutor's office.

"They submit their work product to us for review," Tunnell said. "We don't always take the case for whatever reason, but it's a back-and-forth."

Having a case shut down can be frustrating at times, acknowledged E. Wayne Risner, Ashland County Sheriff.

"We do all that we can with the resources and the knowledge that we have about a case," Risner said. "Sometimes we feel like we have a good case … sometimes they just have to tell us that they see where we're coming from, but saying it and proving it are two different things."

When that happens, the prosecutor said, it's usually because key elements of the case are missing or nonexistent, and its nearly always nobody's fault.

"We've got really good law enforcement in this county, and they do a great job," Tunnell said. "They work hard."

'Everybody just started making stuff'

To thank them for their efforts, the staff at the prosecutor's office invited every law enforcement officer from across the county to Monday's picnic.

Tunnell owns a barbecue smoker, so he bought pork butt and sausage and prepared countless pounds for the event.

"My staff said they would make sides and deserts and things," Tunnell said. "Everybody in the office made something, whether it's beans, mac-n-cheese, coleslaw … everybody just started making stuff."

All of the food items were purchased privately by employees of the prosecutor's office.

To accommodate officers who work various hours, the event was held over the shift change, from 3 to 7 p.m.

"We've got to-go containers," Tunnell said. "We try to make sure everybody gets some."

By the end of the day, everyone was full and happy that the prosecutor sponsored the event. It turns out, he was the right person for the job.

"His passion is doing pork and stuff and he's very good at it," Risner said. "He took the time and I appreciate that."

ztuggle@gannett.com

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Twitter: @zachtuggle

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Barbecue way to thank law enforcement for serving Ashland County