Adult Probation

The Mission Statement of the Wayne County Common Pleas Court Adult Probation Department is to provide the highest quality service to the Court, community, and offenders, ultimately enhancing public safety. This is accomplished through effective community based supervision, enforcement of Court orders and affording offenders an opportunity to initiate positive changes.

Our Philosophy about Community Control

Evidenced-Based Practices: All officers provide supervision to their offenders based on evidenced-based practices. We believe in addressing the core issues/needs that most of our offender’s experience, which involves evaluation and many levels of service. We refer to local agencies to address issues related to substance abuse, mental health and psychiatric care, 12 step and other support-based groups, vocational support, GED classes and other individualized services.

All officers are training in the theory and techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and integrate this knowledge base into all interactions with offenders. Specifically, all officers utilize Motivational Interviewing techniques to encourage offenders to explore and access internal and external factors that impact their thinking and subsequent actions.

Download the General Rules and Conditions of Community Control

Probation Department Staff

The Wayne County Court of Common Pleas Adult Probation Department is staffed by six full-time probation officers under the direction of the Common Pleas Judges and the Chief Probation Officer. Our officers continue to work each and every day on the front lines with probationers to hold them accountable for the crimes they have committed and also to provide the offenders with the tools needed to initiate positive life changes. The challenges faced by this department are tremendous, yet the efforts of our staff and our ongoing commitment to excellence continue to make a positive impact on the community. All of our officers have embraced evidenced-based practices in their supervision style and they do so in an effort to ensure the highest level of public safety.

Cheryl Gerwig, Chief Probation Officer/CCA Director

Chief Gerwig is responsible for the daily operations of the Adult Probation Department, including; office administration, departmental budgets and supervision of Probation Staff. She also supervises a caseload and is the Reentry Court Coordinator and works to assist probationers re-entering the community from periods of incarceration including, but not limited to, time spent in state prisons. In addition to her daily duties, Chief Gerwig is currently the Vice President of the Ohio Chief Probation Officer’s Association as well as a member of the Wayne County Community Corrections Board, Wayne County Reentry Coalition, Stark Regional Community Corrections Center’s Facility Governing Board, the Ohio Justice Alliance for Community Corrections Collaborative, and the Sex Offender Program Certification Board for the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. In addition, she is an active member of the American Probation and Parole Association, the National Association of Probation Executives (NAPE) and the Ohio Chief Probation Officer’s Association.

Chief Gerwig graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology / Law Corrections. 

Cindy Kuhl, Senior Probation Officer, Intensive Supervision Officer, Drug Court Coordinator

Officer Kuhl’s duties include supervision of an Intensive Supervision caseload, coordination of the Wayne County Common Pleas Drug Court and additional supervisory duties as the department’s Senior Officer.  She is a certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer and currently an advisory committee member for that program. 

Officer Kuhl earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology (B.A.) from the State University of New York at Geneseo and a Master’s Degree in Human Services/Counseling (M.S.) from the State University of New York at Oswego.  Officer Kuhl is independently licensed by the State of Ohio as a Professional Clinical Counselor with a supervisory endorsement (PCC-S).  She is also fluent in Spanish.  

Brandi Couch, Probation Officer, Re-entry Court Officer

Officer Couch supervises a Basic Community Control caseload and coordinates all Interstate Compact Cases and monitors out of state offenders in accordance with federal regulations. She is a Re-Entry Court Officer and prepares investigative reports for motions filed for Judicial Release. 

In addition to her caseload supervision, Officer Couch is a certified Thinking for a Change facilitator and has facilitated cognitive behavioral groups following the Courage to Change and Criminal and Addictive Thinking curricula. She is also a certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer.

Matthew Zaleski, Probation Officer/Community Service Coordinator

Officer Zaleski oversees the Community Service Program.  His duties include interviewing individuals that have community service to perform and placing them at non-profit organizations, focusing on utilizing individual’s skill sets and interest. He also supervises a Basic Community Control caseload. 

In addition to community his caseload supervision, Officer Zaleski prepares both Sealing of Records and Relief from Disability Investigations.  He is also a certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer.

Officer Zaleski graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.  

Dominic Palmucci, Probation Officer, Drug Court Officer

Officer Palmucci supervises individuals that have been granted Intervention in Lieu of Conviction.  He also supervises a Basic Community Control Case load and co-coordinates the Wayne County Drug Court Program. 

In addition to his caseload supervision, Officer Palmucci is a certified Thinking for a Change facilitator and has facilitated cognitive behavioral groups.  He is also a certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer.

Officer Palmucci graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and minor in Psychology from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.

Courtney Burnett, ISP Officer, Re-Entry Court Officer

Officer Burnett supervises probationers on the Intensive Supervision caseload, including all individuals who’ve been granted a Judicial Release. She is a Re-Entry Court Officer and works to assist probationers re-entering into the community from periods of incarceration including, but not limited to, time spent in state prisons. 

In addition to her caseload supervision, Officer Burnett is a certified Thinking for a Change facilitator and has facilitated cognitive behavioral groups following the Courage to Change and Criminal and Addictive Thinking curricula.  She also serves as a facilitator for the Wayne County Adult Probation Book Group, providing community service hours for probationers who participate in a 12-week reading group. She is also a certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer.

Officer Burnett earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Ashland University. 

John Kennedy, ISP Officer

Officer Kennedy supervises an Intensive Supervision caseload comprised primarily of high and moderate risk offenders.  He works to provide linkage between his caseload and appropriate community agencies.

Officer Kennedy has an extensive background in law enforcement both locally and nationally. In addition to his caseload supervision, Officer Kennedy is also a certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer.

Officer Kennedy graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Peter’s College.

Trina Wudarzewski, Office Manager/Fiscal Officer

Mrs. Wudarzewski coordinates all essential office management functions for the Adult Probation Department, to include processing of all legal documents, directs all incoming phone calls, is responsible for the collection and aggregation of all statistical data, and coordinates the records retention policy for the Probation Department. Under the direction of the Chief Probation Officer/ CCA Director, Mrs. Wudarzewski also oversees and directs the accounting, financial auditing/reporting and budgeting for the CCA program as well as the Common Pleas Court.

Bethany Sherrieb, Presentence Investigator, Guardian Ad Litem

Presentence Investigator Sherrieb’s daily duties include conducting presentence investigation interviews and collateral contacts with felony offenders, administering ORAS risk assessments, completing PSI reports for the Court and making recommendations to the sentencing judge. In addition to her duties for the Adult Probation Department, she also is a court appointed Guardian Ad Litem (G.A.L.) with Wayne County Domestic Relations Court and continues to provide G.A.L. services and a children’s group to that Court.

She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice/Political Science (B.S.) from The University of Akron and has a Minor in Sociology.  She is also a Licensed Social Worker (L.S.W.).  

Greg Odenkirk, Presentence Investigator

Presentence Investigator, Odenkirk’s daily duties include preparing presentence investigation reports by conducting interviews and collateral contacts with felony offenders, administering ORAS Risk Assessments, and making recommendations to the sentencing judge.  In addition, he prepares pretrial reports for the Court providing information regarding the amending of a defendant’s bond and conditions of release.

Prior to joining Wayne County Adult Probation, Greg retired from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office with 28 years of service.