Meet Mike
I'm proud to be a lifelong resident of Union County, having graduated from Marysville High School in 1988. Since 2008, my wife Rhonda and I have made our home just outside of Milford Center, celebrating twenty-seven years of marriage. Our family is a great source of joy, consisting of three wonderful children—Adam, Nicole, and Zane — all graduates of Fairbanks High School. Together with our children, Rhonda and I are delighted grandparents to Cole.
Professional Journey:
- Commenced a dedicated career at the Union County Sheriff’s Office in April 1990, accumulating 33 years of invaluable service.
- Began as a corrections officer in 1990, attended the peace officer training academy, and graduated in 1991.
- Elevated to the position of Jail Administrator, overseeing the Communications Center and acting as the backup 9-1-1 Coordinator 1991.
- Patrol Deputy Assignment 1995.
- Transferred to Detective Division 1999.
- Held a special assignment at the Columbus Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) 2006.
- After DEA assignment, rejoined the patrol division in 2010.
- Transferred to the Investigations Division in 2011.
- Notably served as Lieutenant of Investigations in 2015 and transitioned to the role of Patrol Lieutenant in 2017.
- Reaching the rank of Captain in January 2023.
Leadership and Professional Development:
- Police Executive Leadership College (PELC) - Ohio Chiefs of Police.
- Public Safety Leadership Academy (PSLA) - The Ohio State University John Glenn College.
- Contributed significantly to and led various specialty teams, including the Special Response Team (SRT), Crisis/Hostage Negotiators, Multi County Crash Investigation Team (MCCIT), and the Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement (MADE) team.
- Provided Leadership for: Public Safety Officers, K9 Officer Program, Scales and Weights, Drone, School Resource and DARE Officers, Community Relations Deputies.
- Planning, organizing, overseeing and/or assisting with special events such as - Union County Fair, Union County Fair Concert, All Ohio Balloon Festival and Richwood Fair Concert.
- Testified with Union County Prosecutor David Phillips in front of the Ohio Senate to change the laws pertaining to prescription drugs that resulted in updated law changes for all of Ohio Law Enforcement.
Accolades and Achievements:
With these assignments, I have been blessed to work with many good men and women from not only our sheriff’s office but from multiple other agencies. As a result of these relationships and hard work, I have been blessed with many accomplishments through the years. These accomplishments not only included successful prosecutions of criminal offenders, but the following:
- Sole three-time recipient of the Deputy of the Year award, with the most recent accolade in 2022.
- Earned three Office Citations and two Commendations for outstanding performance.
- Received commendations and accolades from esteemed entities, including the Knights of Columbus, Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association, DEA Columbus District Office, and the Union County Prosecutor.
Community Involvement:
In addition to my professional responsibilities, I've devoted my personal time to volunteering in youth sports and served as the longest-serving Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 171 President for nearly 12 years. This involvement underscores my commitment to both law enforcement and the overall well-being of our community.
I appreciate your time in getting to know me. I am enthusiastic about the prospect of serving as your Sheriff, eager to contribute to the safety and prosperity of Union County. Thank you.
