Welcome, New Police Chief Mike Martinsen

Michael Martinsen is Cincinnati State’s new Police Chief and Director of Campus Safety, effective Feb. 28.

Chief Martinsen has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, including work with the City of Hamilton Police Department and the Cincinnati, Ohio, & Butler County Sherriff’s Office where he served as an Agent and Drug Enforcement Specialist for the Regional Drug Task Force.

Chief Martinsen also has extensive experience in higher education policing, serving as the Police Chief and Director of Campus Safety at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, and most recently as the Director of Campus Safety at Oberlin College.

“We are thrilled to have Chief Martinsen join Cincinnati State,” said John Tafaro, Interim V.P. of Administration.

“He brings both local knowledge and impressive experience at the college level to this important role at Cincinnati State.”

Chief Martinsen has extensive family in the region and said he is happy to be “coming home.” He plans to relocate to Liberty Township.

Chief Martinsen earned his Bachelor of Specialized Studies Degree in Public Safety Administration from Ohio University, and a Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Communications & Leadership from Seton Hall University (New Jersey).

V.P. Tafaro added, “I would like to thank Lieutenant Todd Halusek for ably filling in as acting chief for the past several months. We really appreciate Todd’s leadership and effort on behalf of the College.”

He also thanked members of the search committee that worked diligently to hire Chief Martinsen, including Heather Hatchett, Marree Barnette, Kim Vasko, Frankie Baker, and Officer Sherry Drescher, who devoted “countless hours” to this important task.V.P.

V.P. Tafaro noted that Janet Lee from the Human Resources Department also provided helpful assistance.