SOUTH POINT – Patrolling the state highways and county roads is certainly no new task for the Ohio Highway Patrol’s new Ironton post commander, but being the boss will be a new challenge.

Wednesday, August 30, 2000

SOUTH POINT – Patrolling the state highways and county roads is certainly no new task for the Ohio Highway Patrol’s new Ironton post commander, but being the boss will be a new challenge.

Lt. Carl Roark was promoted to July 27 to take charge of the 22 employees who are currently ensuring motorists’ safety throughout the county.

"Currently, I’m in the observation period," Roark said. "I’m looking at the operations of this post as well as watching the operation of the county. I first want to learn the community and meet as many of the public officials as I can. An administrative position always requires some readjustment."

Following a four-year term in the United States Marine Corps, Roark began his career with the OHP as a trooper in Dayton.

After eight years of service at the Dayton post, he was promoted to sergeant and moved to Lebanon, where he sent one and a half years before he voluntarily transferred to Xenia.

He was promoted and transferred to the Ironton post a little more than a month ago to replace post commander Lt. Jim Coleman, who retired in June.

Roark said he has wanted to be a state trooper all his life.

"As a child, I hadn’t realized that I could obtain the position as a trooper without a college education," he said. "After I realized that I could, I set that as a goal for myself. I do have an associate’s degree in police science, but that alone didn’t help me achieve this position."

A lifestyle based on core values and studying hard in school played an important role in achieving his goal, he added.

Roark said that even though Lawrence County continually shows an improving safety record, he has set two goals for the county.

"I want to look at two things," he said. "First, I want to take a look at the community involvement programs such as the Partners for Safety. I want to ensure quality programs with community involvement. Second, I want to look at what we can do to continuously reduce the number of fatalities and injuries we have in the county."

He said the Ironton post will increase the number of troopers patrolling the county to help reduce the number of fatalities.

"Presently, we are at five persons killed within the county for the year 2000," he said. "If we did five-year average, Lawrence County would annually have five motor vehicle fatal crashes that occur outside municipalities. Now, it is August and we already have five this year."

Roark said motorists will see an increased enforcement on roadways to remind drivers that safe driving habits are what stop accidents.

"My goal is to make this county as safe as possible," he said.