Chief Deputy Rick Minerd will discuss Franklin County's HOPE Task Force and his involvement and experiences with Showtime's docu-series The Trade. The HOPE Task Force is a creative, multi-pronged approach: enforcement, education, and prevention. Fighting addiction and death from drug overdose is a community problem and requires a community solution. Established in 2016, the Heroin Overdose Prevention & Education (HOPE) Task Force was created as a restructuring of the Franklin County Drug Task Force. Experienced narcotics and homicide detectives working on the HOPE Task Force are treating opiate overdose scenes as crime scenes; investigating the source of the supply that caused the overdose.
In addition, the HOPE Task Force collaborates with treatment providers to refer those with substance use disorders to long term treatment. Detectives are armed with the knowledge and partnership of treatment providers in the Franklin County community to help addicts recover instead of locking them up. Prevention and education is key to our long term plan and HOPE works closely with the already established and nationally recognized Operation Street Smart to provide awareness of the growing problem.
Chief Minerd and others in the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and the HOPE Task Force are key subjects in the Showtime documentary titled "The Trade." This documentary is an unflinching look inside America's heroin crisis. From Columbus, Ohio to Guerrero, Mexico and countless cities in between, the opioid epidemic has ravaged communities on both sides of the border. But what about the lives behind the headlines and statistics? This timely, provocative five-episode docu-series spotlights the crisis through the eyes of those most affected: the growers, addicts, cartel bosses and law enforcement hopelessly caught in its web. Episodes can be watched at no cost here: The Trade
Chief Deputy Rick Minerd began his career with the Sheriff’s Office 27 years ago. He has went on to serve as a supervisor in the Corrections Division, Communications Center, Patrol Bureau, Detective Bureau, and Special Investigations Unit. In addition, he worked as a member of the Dive Team and Honor Guard. He spent the 16 years serving as an operator, team leader, and eventually Commander of the SWAT Team. Currently, he oversees the Criminal Investigations Division. Chief Deputy Minerd is a 2005 graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Management, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration, both from Franklin University. His experiences include initiating the Sheriff's Office first Emergency Operations Center during the I-270 Highway Shooter investigation, establishing the Heroin Overdose Prevention & Education (HOPE) task force, and playing a significant role in the successful prosecution of a number of high profile homicide investigations, drug cases, and other crimes in Central Ohio. Chief Deputy Minerd understands the necessity for collaboration and strong partnerships throughout the community. He has served as a panelist for the Ohio Criminal Justice Services - Drug Trends Conference, where he spoke extensively about synthetic drugs. He has also served as a liaison to the Mid-Ohio Amber Alert Board, Columbus City Child Fatality Review Board, Parents of Murdered Children, and other groups, such as the Franklin County Police Chief's Association and Homeland Security Advisory Council.
