Walsh finds new insights in Leadership Coshocton

Josh Walsh is a Coshocton native, growing up in Canal Lewisville. He attended Keene Elementary School and graduated from the Coshocton Christian School in 2001. A hard worker, Walsh worked at Buehler’s when he was 16 and graduated a year early to go to work full-time.

When he turned 18, he attended COTC-Newark in the criminal justice program. He enrolled in the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy in January 2004 and graduated in July of the same year.

His career in law enforcement started in 2004, a time he said was tough to get work in law enforcement, with a part-time position with the Village of West Lafayette. He worked a split shift with Rusty Dreher, now captain of the Coshocton Fire Department.

In 2006 he was hired to work full-time at the sheriff’s office, initially starting in corrections. Walsh appreciated the opportunity to work in corrections with the inmates, who would get to know him. This relationship proved beneficial when he began serving in the road division.

While he patrolled the western end of the county, he said he tried to hit every township and county road. In 2009 Walsh joined the special response team until 2025, when an injury encouraged him to retire from that role.

Walsh currently serves in the civil division of the sheriff’s office as an administrative lieutenant. In this position he wears many different hats, all of which allow him to serve the county and teach. He is responsible for sheriff’s sales; offender registration including sex offenders, arsonists and violent offenders; the drug take-back program, participating in the National Drug Take-Back Program in coordination with the health department; and is the keeper of the keys for all vehicles and doors in the building.

Walsh also keeps track of all the office vehicles including the ordering and purchasing of vehicles, equipment necessary for each vehicle, maintenance on all vehicles, and keeping the road equipment stocked (spike strips or body cameras). He also is the county’s Alert, Lock Down, Inform, Counter, Evacuate instructor, providing school safety instruction and reviewing business safety plans.

Walsh said he enjoys this aspect of his job. He said if he couldn’t be in law enforcement, he’d be a teacher. Finally, you may see him on Election Day, as he travels to each polling station checking on security.

When he’s not serving the community in law enforcement, he is the assistant director for the Soccer Organization of the Coshocton County Area. He also has served on different recreation boards when his kids were involved.

Walsh wanted to participate in Leadership Coshocton County for a few years, and when Chris Walters became sheriff, he was supportive of his interest. Walsh decided to participate to make connections in the community so he can serve on more boards now that his kids are older. He said he also wanted to meet people from other areas of the community and become more involved to help the community.

“I’ve been in law enforcement for more than 20 years in our community and thought I knew most things about it, but I have been learning new things and meeting new people,” Walsh said.

Of the community, Walsh said it's a great place that's moving in the right direction.

From his viewpoint and his position with the sheriff’s office, he said he sees the business side of the community. “The community is moving in the right direction; our leaders are moving in the right direction. The data center coming in to Conesville should be beneficial,” he said.

To make the county stronger, Walsh thinks another hotel would open up more opportunities for growth and tourism. He said with the various tournaments and events at Kids America, the Roscoe Village festivals and Our Town Summer Concert Series, “There are not enough hotel rooms. Players and families have to stay in New Philadelphia or Newark.”

He said he's experienced this himself when traveling to out-of-town soccer or volleyball tournaments. He needs to reserve a room months in advance or stay far away from the sports venue, which is often inconvenient.

Walsh said he would recommend LCC to anyone. “I’ve met some good people in the class and would like to keep in touch with them after LCC ends,” he said.

Walsh is married to Andrea, a preschool teacher at River View Elementary, and they have three children: two daughters and a son. If he’s not at work, you’ll find him cheering for his oldest daughter or son on the soccer field or cheering on his other daughter at JO Volleyball at Kids America.