Name? Rank?
Chuck Gierach, Lieutenant
How long have you been with OSUPD?
20 years
You were just named Supervisor of the Year. What does this award mean to you?
Since I was nominated by my co-workers, it means a lot. Effective law enforcement work requires good teamwork and I couldn’t do my job well if I didn’t have a good team to work with.
Where are you from and how does that help shape who you are today?
I’m from West Virginia but grew up in the Columbus area. I love the outdoors and wanted to work in a career that allows me to be out and about instead of in an office all day.
What inspired you to become an OSUPD officer?
At the time I knew I wanted to become a police officer. I applied to a lot of places and the more I learned about OSUPD and went through the hiring process, the more I really wanted to work here. I’m glad it worked out.
What’s unique about policing at Ohio State?
Essentially every year we have a mini-reboot with a new group of first year students that come from all different backgrounds. We also have a lot of major events that occur on campus that require us to be trained in a variety of ways. We have multiple specialized teams such as our special response team, personal protection team and drone team.
Why do you serve?
I wanted to do something to serve the community and have a job that could be different each day.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I like doing things in the outdoors, like biking, hiking, and playing a variety of sports like tennis and golf. Lately I’m trying to get better at golf but it’s very much a work in progress.
What’s your favorite thing about being a Buckeye?
That no matter where I’ve traveled, I’ve seen something Ohio State related. The connections to Ohio State are everywhere.