Department Spotlight: Exemplifying Accountability in Toledo’s Prosecutor’s Office

During a recent tour of the municipal court renovations, Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, along with Deputy Mayors Karen Poore and Abby Arnold, made an impromptu stop by the City's Prosecutor's Office. As they passed the copy machine, the mayor was struck by something he hadn’t anticipated: framed on the wall was a list of the City of Toledo’s core values—values that had recently been developed through collaboration across departments.

"It was just such a special moment for Karen, Abby, and me," Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. "Here is a department that really is taking our work on these core values seriously. I want to thank Rebecca for doing that. "This moment highlighted not only the significance of those values but also the deep commitment of the City Prosecutor’s Office to embody them in their day-to-day work, especially accountability.

Accountability in Action: Insights from Toledo’s Chief Prosecutor Rebecca Facey
Accountability is a core value that shapes every department and employee in the City of Toledo. For Chief Prosecutor Rebecca Facey, it’s more than a guiding principle; it’s the foundation of her office’s operations and culture. Facey was part of the workgroup that helped develop the City’s reimagined core values.

“It was a great opportunity to collaborate with other folks across city departments to reflect on what matters most to us. I'm proud of the work we did to shape those values, but it also sparked a conversation in our office about our own values,” Facey said.

“We do important work in the City Prosecutor’s Office—upholding the law and ensuring community safety. And we have prosecutors like Michelle Turvey, who’s the longest-serving assistant city prosecutor, 17 years on the job. Her dedication is a testament to our team’s commitment.”

What Accountability Means in the Prosecutor’s Office
For Facey and her team, accountability means upholding the law and ensuring fairness in every case. “It’s about ensuring that everyone is held to the same standard,” Facey said. “That's our job. We're holding the community accountable to the laws of our community, keeping us all safe, and making sure that everybody's held to the same standard. I'm just proud of the teamwork our office demonstrates in doing this. I think that’s definitely an excellent definition of accountability.”

“Accountability means people have to realize that they’re responsible for their actions. We help the community understand this—whether it's traffic offenses or criminal offenses, the court is looking for accountability. We present cases, make plea offers, and work with the judges to ensure everyone is held accountable,” Turvey said.

But accountability isn’t just about defendants. It’s also a cornerstone of the prosecutor’s office culture. “Everybody does their part,” Turvey said. “We’re willing to step up and cover for each other when life emergencies arise. That’s part of the accountability our office embraces.”Facey echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the office.

“I’m proud to say I’ve never worked in a more team-oriented environment than at the City of Toledo Prosecutor's Office. We're all happy to cover for each other, knowing that anyone else would do that for us. If we're all carrying our equal load, then we all share it equally.” Turvey also reflected on how leadership plays a crucial role in fostering the culture of accountability within the office.

“I think a lot of it has to do with our current leadership. Rebecca is great at her job! She brings people together,” Turvey said. “In the past, we’ve had times when things weren’t as together. Nobody wanted to help each other—it was more about ‘I’m there for myself.’ But now we have a culture in our office that I believe will continue going forward, a culture that allows the good work of the prosecutor’s office to continue.”

Looking Ahead
The prosecutor’s office continues to focus on initiatives like handling domestic violence cases with a dedicated team. “We’re seeing more victimless trials than ever before,” Facey said, highlighting her team’s unwavering dedication to justice. “We’re fortunate to have incredible people in our office, all working together to uphold the law and embody the values that make Toledo stronger.”As the City of Toledo reaffirms its commitment to accountability, the prosecutor’s office stands as a model for how this value can inspire teamwork, integrity, and meaningful change.

Prosecutor's Office, from left to right:

Front row: Kristin Hubaker, Michelle Turvey, Emily Richter, Rebecca Facey, Michael Sheehan, Monica Sass, Nicole Arter, Hannah McAbee.

Back row: Scott Kunzler, Josh Arter, Jimmie Jones, Nancy Magginis. (Not pictured: John Arnsby, Kate Sandretto, and Diana Carrizales.)