Sheriff Simon Leis to throw out First Pitch at Reds Opening Day

CINCINNATI, Ohio - On Thursday, the Cincinnati Reds announced that Hamilton County Sheriff, Simon L. Leis, Jr. will throw out the first pitch at the Opening Day game. The Reds’ Opening Day game is at Great American Ball Park against the Miami Marlins on Thursday, April 5 at 4 in the afternoon.

“Sheriff Si Leis has been the face of law enforcement in Hamilton County for more than 50 years serving as a prosecutor, judge and sheriff,” said Reds owner and CEO Bob Castellini. “He’s run his 800-person department like a Marine Corps company with precision and pride. The people of Hamilton County have been blessed to have Si working on their behalf to make our community a better place in which to live, work and play. In recognition of his outstanding service to this community and his pending retirement this year, the Reds are honored to have Si throw the first pitch of the 2012 Reds season.”

“I consider it to be a great honor to open the 2012 baseball season by throwing out the first pitch at Great American Ball Park,” said Sheriff Leis.

Sheriff Simon L. Leis, Jr.  has been called “The Great Three-in-One of the Justice System” because of his accomplishments as Prosecutor, Judge, and Sheriff of Hamilton County during his prestigious career serving the citizens of Hamilton County in one capacity or another since 1961.

He served as City of Cincinnati Assistant City Prosecutor and Assistant City Solicitor before being elected Hamilton County Prosecutor from 1971-1982. He also served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney for Southern District of Ohio.

In 1982 he was elected and served as a judge in the Common Pleas Court until 1987 when he was appointed to serve as Sheriff of Hamilton County.

Sheriff Leis was elected to six consecutive four-year terms as Sheriff of Hamilton County from 1998 to 2008.

In November 2011, Sheriff Leis announced he would retire after five decades of public service.