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 A. Gooding

Lt. Gooding began his career with the Ohio State Highway Patrol in 1990 as a member of the 120th Academy Class. After earning his commission, he was assigned to the Lebanon Post. During his Patrol career, he has served at the former Massillon Post, Canton and Ravenna Posts. In 2000, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and became the Piqua District’s Criminal Patrol supervisor. In 2014 he was promoted to Lieutenant and became the Commander of Criminal Patrol Investigations for the Wilmington District.

Lieutenant Gooding earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in criminal justice from The University of Akron in 1989 and a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational leadership from Wright State University in 2010. Lt. Gooding supervises four Sergeants. One is assigned to the Cincinnati DEA office, one to the Hamilton County Heroin Task Force, one to the Cincinnati Police Department and one at the Warren County Drug Task Force. There are four OSHP K9 handlers and dogs assigned to the Warren Count Drug Task Force. Lt. Gooding also supervises two full time Criminal Patrol Troopers.

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Canines