On the Job 

At 91, Howard Mullen owns an official Meigs County Sheriff's Office deputy’s uniform, a 1947 Ford kitted out like an old-time police car and the record as Ohio’s longest-certified law officer. But since he started in 1953, he has always served the sheriff’s office on a part-time, volunteer basis.

Battling the opioid epidemic — and saving lives — must encompass a holistic approach, one involving law enforcement, treatment, education and prevention. That last component calls for a thorough exploration of what we can do to stop more people from falling victim to opioid addiction. 

For years now, people have recognized the serious effects of traumatic brain injury on pro football players and young athletes. Now Ohio advocates for domestic violence survivors are connecting the dots for a population whose most common injuries, according to the CDC, involve the head, neck and face.

What does your job entail? I oversee seven “sections” within the Attorney General’s Office: the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, Special Prosecutions, the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, Health Care Fraud, Crime Victims and Criminal Justice. There are about 670 employees within those sections, and their responsibilities are wide-ranging. 

The critical first minutes after an officer-involved shooting are chaotic, commonly characterized by confusion, conflicting information and sensory overload. Creating order out of the chaos and taking command necessitate a level of confidence that can come from preparation. These suggestions serve as a guide.