Stephen Gibbs served with the Columbus Division of Police from 1994 to 2010, retiring in Good Standing to transition into active duty in the U.S. Army.
Key Highlights:
Silver Cross Recipient: Awarded the Columbus Police Silver Cross—the department’s second-highest honor—for outstanding bravery and risking his life in the line of duty.
Proven Integrity: 15 years of dedicated service to the community before transitioning to full-time military leadership.
Citizen-Soldier: Maintained his commitment as an Army Reservist throughout his police career, including multiple combat mobilizations.
LTC Stephen Gibbs retired Honorably from the U.S. Army on August 23, 2024. He brings 26 years of disciplined leadership and fiscal responsibility to the Office of Jailer.
Key Decorations & Qualifications:
Legion of Merit (LOM) • Bronze Star Medal (BSM)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards)
Meritorious Service Medal (4 Awards)
Combat Action Badge (CAB) & Parachutist Badge
Service History: Two Combat Tours in Iraq and multiple deployments to Afghanistan.
A 25-year-old civil case regarding a traffic citation has been misrepresented to the public. As shown in the official court transcript [see highlighted image], the court explicitly stated: 'This court is not making a determination that the officer is untrustworthy.'
In Sikora v. Gibbs, the Ohio Court of Appeals addressed whether a police memorandum could be used as evidence in a summary judgment motion. The court’s discussion focused on the admissibility and reliability of that document under evidence rules. It did not make a finding that Stephen Gibbs was personally untrustworthy. The appellate court later reversed part of the summary judgment ruling, and the civil case was subsequently dismissed by the plaintiff and never refiled.
The court also indicated that Officer Gibbs’ actions should be evaluated based on the facts known at the time, not simply on the later outcome of the case.