OTFCA: Stark County
Stark County Sheriff’s Office Metro Narcotics Unit
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office Metro Narcotics Unit is one of the oldest existing Drug Units in Ohio, beginning operation in 1969. The mission of the Metro Unit is to identify, investigate and take enforcement action against illegal narcotics trafficking and related criminal activity in conjunction with, but not in place of, local, state and federal enforcement efforts. Metro is a multi-jurisdictional task force that is supplied personnel from numerous police agencies in Stark County. These agencies consist of the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Canton PD, Jackson Township PD, Lawrence Township PD, Canal Fulton PD, North Canton PD, Brewster PD, Navarre PD, Uniontown PD, and Stark Parks. The Metro Narcotics Unit works with several other state and federal agencies in it’s daily activities as well to include the Adult Parole Authority, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, ATF, DEA, and HSI. The Metro Narcotics Unit is primarily funded through various grants that are acquired on both state and federal levels. The Metro Narcotics Unit not only focuses on the enforcement aspect of narcotics trafficking investigations, but also partners with numerous community agencies to focus on prevention and deterrence of substance abuse and promoting mental health awareness. The Metro Narcotics Unit has a proven history of completing successful investigations and being the hub of creating collaborative relationships between other law enforcement agencies.
Commander Major Rick Stauffer
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office Metro Narcotics is supervised by Task Force Commander Major Rick Stauffer. With over 32 years of law enforcement experience, Major Stauffer has been involved in numerous high-profile cases, including homicides, emergency communication system breaches, and two serial killer investigations that led to convictions. In addition to his investigative work, Major Stauffer worked four years as a Prosecutor’s Investigator. Major Stauffer has investigated numerous narcotics related violent crimes throughout his career. Major Stauffer is assisted by Agent in Charge, Lt. Craig Kennedy.
STARK COUNTY
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
METRO NARCOTICS UNIT
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
METRO NARCOTICS UNIT
COMMANDER
Major Rick Stauffer
Commander
(Metro Narcotics)
Commander
(Metro Narcotics)
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