CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County is about to get its first African-American Sheriff.
A source confirmed to WKYC's Tom Beres that respected current Sheriff's Department Chief Clifford Pinkney will be nominated as Sheriff by new County Executive Armond Budish at a Friday morning press conference.
Pinkney will still need to be confirmed by the Cuyahoga County Council.
Pinkney is a 24-year-veteran of the Sheriff's Department. He is currently Chief, the second-ranking person in the Department behind Sheriff Frank Bova, who appointed him.
The source confirms Bova will remain in the administration in some capacity. His new role will also be announced Friday.
There is speculation that Bova will become the Director of Public Safety or hold another administrative, policy-making post.
Pinkney currently has oversight of the investigation into the Cleveland Police shooting of Tamir Rice. Mayor Frank Jackson transferred the probe from Cleveland Police.
Pinkney started with the Department as a deputy in 1991.
In 1993, he was promoted to detective. In 1998 he joined the Narcotics Bureau. He then served on an FBI Task Force dealing with gangs, drugs and wiretaps. He became a sergeant in 2005 and oversaw the Sex Offender Unit in 2007.
He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2012. He has won multiple honors for his job performance.
Pinkney had to fight to get his job back. Sheriff Gerald McFaul terminated him for sending a photo of a suspect to a civilian co-worker.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rule that Pinkney had been disciplined more severely than white employees and ordered that he be reinstated.
Lawyer Michael Nelson, Co-Chair of the NAACP's Criminal Justice Committee said, " He's well trained. He's well-qualified. This is a person who deserves the appointment....County Executive Budish is to be commended for his commitment to diversity."
Lawyer and civil rights activist James Hardiman said, ' I don't think race nothwithstanding, they could have made a better selection...Budish is making a wise choice."
U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach knows of Pinkney's work. " He's a dedicated career law enforcement official. He follows facts. He doesn't follow headlines. He cares a lot about the community....the most important colors for Cliff are red, white and blue."
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty said, " Cliff Pinkney is an outstanding lawman....If career criminals in the county were smart, they'd head for the Greyhound station right now, but a one-way ticket and ride...right out of town."
Pinkney served on the Fugitive Task Force run by U.S. Marshall Pete Elliot. He becomes the second task force member to assume a leadership role, joining Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.
"Cliff is a great leader and served on the Task Force and is a great community leader, " he said.
Presently all 88 sheriffs in Ohio are white males. Pinkney will become the second-ever black Ohio sheriff. Sheriff Walter Davis served three years in Delaware County.
Sheriff was an elected position in the old county government. It's now an appointed position , chosen by the Cuyahoga County Executive.
