Rick Whitfield is a 2003 Columbiana High School graduate and a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Ashland University where he majored in Criminal Justice. He has worked for over 18 years in law enforcement. He started his career in Goshen Township and Lisbon Village, then went to the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office and hired full-time in his hometown in 2011. He has worked alongside many state and federal agencies while investigating crimes in Columbiana, which have included: simple and felonious assault, burglary, robbery, fraud, computer crimes, sexual assault, and homicide.

He has professional training through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and have completed the Master Criminal Investigator program which includes training in interview and interrogation, crime scene photography, death investigation, drug identification, computer crimes and sexual assault investigation.

He is the Columbiana Police Department's Training Officer and is in charge of developing and implementing our Field Training Program through our trained Field Training Officers. He is also responsible for developing and presenting annual training plans to the Chief of Police and ensuring that our officers are in compliance with annual training requirements set by the State of Ohio.

Rick is also assigned to be a Member of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force which is a national network of 61 task forces and helps to identify and prosecute offenders that victimize children over the internet.