The Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office provide personnel to the interdiction efforts of the Warren County Drug Task Force/ Ohio HIDTA initiative. These highly trained and effective teams patrol our interstates and roadways concentrating their efforts on criminal activities associated with drug trafficking. Our team utilizes various types of canines to include narcotics detection only as well as dual purpose canines capable of narcotics detection, tracking and criminal apprehension.

This interdiction team is an excellent example of the collaboration of law enforcement through the Ohio HIDTA program.

Lt. Mark Nichols

Lt. Nichols began his career with the Ohio State Highway Patrol in 1999 as a member of the 134th Academy Class. After graduating and earning his commission he was assigned to the Batavia Post. Lt. Nichols was promoted to Sergeant in 2007 and served at the Springfield Post. He was then promoted to Lieutenant in 2012 and commanded the Dayton Post until 2019 when he transferred to the Piqua District Criminal Patrol Team. Lt. Nichols now supports the Piqua and Wilmington District Criminal Patrol Teams.

Lt. Nichols completed The Ohio State University, John Glenn School of Public Affairs, Ohio Public Safety Leadership Academy in 2014 and attends classes at the University of Cincinnati. He supervises 4 Criminal Patrol K9 Troopers and 2 Sergeants in the combined Districts while supporting numerous local, state and federal Task Forces.

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Canines