Flags lowered to half-staff in honor of Greene County sheriff

The flag at the Greene County Sheriffs Office was flying at half-staff Wednesday following Sheriff Gene Fischer's death on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. MARSHALL GORBY / STAFF

Credit: Marshall Gorby

Credit: Marshall Gorby

The flag at the Greene County Sheriffs Office was flying at half-staff Wednesday following Sheriff Gene Fischer's death on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. MARSHALL GORBY / STAFF

Ohio and U.S. flags are at half-staff in Greene County following the death of Sheriff Gene Fischer.

The flags will remain at half-staff at all public buildings and grounds in the county until sunset on the day of Fischer’s funeral. Other public buildings and grounds throughout the state also may fly the flags at half-staff at their discretion.

Fischer died Tuesday night. The sheriff’s office declined to comment initially but will release information Wednesday afternoon.

“The Greene County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the outpouring of support during this time as we have lost Sheriff Fischer,” read a statement issued Wednesday morning. “As we work through our own grieving, we ask for the public’s patience during this time.”

Gov. Mike DeWine and first lady Fran DeWine extended their condolences to Fischer’s family and said the sheriff was a dedicated law enforcement officer.

“Fran and I first met Gene when he worked at the Xenia Police Department. What always struck me was how well loved he was by men and women who worked under him at the department, and he had that same strong relationship with the men and women who worked for him at the sheriff’s office,” the statement read. “Gene combined that respect and love with a real relationship with the community. Sheriff Fischer was doing community policing before those techniques even had a name.”

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