Chief John W. Minek, #  1503   E-Mailcreate new email

Chief Minek has over 40 years of law enforcement experience.  Chief Minek has served in the United States Army Military Police, Houston Police Department and the Olmsted Township Police Department where he retired as a Chief of Police in 2016. Chief Minek attended the F.B.I. National Academy and University of Virginia in 2004. Chief Minek is a state certified Advanced Crisis Negotiator and Firearms Instructor. He holds numerous certifications in leadership and management, investigations, behavioral science, internal investigations, pursuits, civil rights, law, media, and public speaking. Chief Minek has received numerous commendations, proclamations, and a life saving award during his law enforcement career.

Chief Minek is originally from North Olmsted, Ohio, and is an avid golfer. He enjoys traveling, camping, fishing, and spending time with his family and three grandchildren. Chief Minek has been a resident of Medina since 2016, and is honored to serve as Chief of Police for the Medina Township Police Department.

Lt. Todd A. Zieja, #1504  E-Mailcreate new email

Lt. Zieja Joined the Medina Township Police Department in 1994, he was promoted to Sergeant in 1997 and to Lieutenant in 2021.  He graduated from Cloverleaf High School while attending the Law Enforcement Program at the Medina County Career Center.  After completing the Basic Peace Officer Training Academy he later returned as an instructor for Cuyahoga Community College as well as the Basic Academy for the Medina County Career Center.  Lt. Zieja earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Akron.  Lt. Zieja completed the Police Executive Leadership College as well as the Public Safety Leadership Academy. He has maintained Certification as a Certified Law Enforcement Executive.  He holds numerous certifications in many areas.

Sgt. Cliff Nicholson Jr.,  # 1506 E-Mailcreate new email

Sgt. Cliff Nicholson Jr. has become an accomplished Police Officer since 2001. He has been with Medina Township Police Department since 2004 and has received many awards or commendations in notice of his service.  He is the departments Taser, Range and lead Field Training Officer.  As of 2012 has been an operator with the Medina County SWAT Team.  He believes fit for duty is important and enjoys physical training. Sgt. Nicholson is glad to protect and serve the residents and visitors of Medina Township.

Sgt. Shari Mangel, # 1507  E-Mailcreate new email

Sgt. Mangel began her career with the Medina Township Police Department in 1997 after graduating the police academy.  She has held the position of Sergeant since 1999 and has specialized training in drug interdiction and identification, investigation and interrogation techniques, advanced traffic stop techniques, dealing with the mentally ill and numerous other fields.  She has served as a field training officer and has helped with the training of new recruits in the academy.

Sgt. Mangel is a high school graduate of Villa Angela – St. Joseph in Cleveland, Ohio and holds an associate’s degree in applied business from Bryant and Stratton Business institute. Her interests include reading, photography and animals and she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Detective Michael Oyler, #1511  E-Mailcreate new email

Detective Oyler began his law enforcement career in 1996 as a Police Officer with the Dalton Police Department in Wayne County, Ohio. In November of 2006, Detective Oyler joined the Medina Township Police Department, and in March of 2023, he achieved a significant milestone by becoming the department's first full-time Detective. He has also worn the badge of a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal, assigned to the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. He is an active member of the Medina County Domestic & Sexual Violence Taskforce, and he plays a pivotal role in the Medina County CART Team.
Detective Oyler has specialized training in various areas crucial to law enforcement including Drug Facilitated Sexual Assaults, Interviewing and Interrogation Techniques, Crisis Intervention, and Crime Scene Management, among other vital competencies.

Upon graduating from Northwest High School in Canal Fulton in 1992, Detective Oyler attended Kent State University and is a proud veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard. He and his wife Kelly married in 1996, are parents to two children, and have resided in Medina County since 2001.
Beyond his professional duties, Detective Oyler enjoys spending his spare time coaching travel fastpitch softball, going hunting and fishing, and fervently cheering for THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Additionally, he currently serves as the Board President for the Recreation Association of Highland (RAH), a prominent local non-profit youth sports organization, a roll he has held since 2019. Detective Oyler is proud and extremely honored to serve the residence of Medina Township.

Officer Thomas Carlo, #1520  E-Mailcreate new email

Officer Carlo started working in Medina Township on July 5th, 2022. He came from the Peninsula Police Department where he started his career in August of 2020. Officer Carlo grew up in Broadview Heights for most of his life and enlisted in the Marine Corp right out of high school in 2013 as Mortarman. Throughout his military career he was deployed twice overseas and learned various skills to help him in the career he is in now. After leaving the Marine Corp, Officer Carlo started criminal justice classes at Cuyahoga Community College in 2017. While attending school, he was able to apply to the Police Academy in his junior year. He graduated the academy in 2020 and left Cuyahoga Community College with three associate degrees in criminal justice, science, and art. Officer Carlo looks forward to working in Medina Township for the rest of his career and attend classes that will make him a better officer for the community. When he is not working, he likes spending time with his wife and two dogs.

Officer Hallie Gnezda, #1514  E-Mailcreate new email

Officer Gnezda joined the Medina Township Police Department in January 2012. She began her law enforcement career interning with the Toledo Police Department in the summer of 2008. She attended Bowling Green State University and graduated in December 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She earned her OPOTA certification from the Medina County Police Academy in June 2011 and graduated with perfect attendance. She has over ten years of experience working with the developmentally delayed and special needs population. Officer Gnezda holds certifications in Sexual Assault Investigations, Basic Drug and Undercover Investigations, Interacting with and De-Escalating the Special Needs Population, and Domestic Violence. She is proud to be part of the MTPD and looks forward to a successful career serving and protecting the citizens of Medina Township.

Officer Nick Miltner. #1510   E-Mailcreate new email

Officer Miltner joined the Medina Township Police Department in March of 2017. Officer Miltner comes to the Medina Township Police Department from the Burton Police Department, where he began his career in law enforcement in  March of 2015. Officer Miltner is a graduate of Lakeland Community College, where he earned his associates degree in criminal justice. Upon completion of his degree, he enrolled in the Lakeland Police Academy, graduating in December 2014. Officer Miltner looks forward to a long, successful career serving with the Medina Township Police Department. While not on patrol, Officer Miltner enjoys spending time with family and friends and working out.

Officer Matthew O’Donnell , #1513  E-Mailcreate new email

Officer O’Donnell joined the Medina Township Police Department in December of 2021. He graduated from Medina High School in 2002. Officer O’Donnell enlisted in the United States Marine Corps right after high school where he worked on parachutes, oxygen regulators and life rafts as an Aviation Life Support Technician. He also was a Primary Marksman Instructor for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Officer O’Donnell enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard in Medina, Ohio as a Diesel Generator Mechanic and Marksman Instructor in 2008. Officer O’Donnell received an Associates Degree in Applied Science from Vatterott in 2012. He was an owner of a home remodeling company that started out of his garage for the next 9 years. In July of 2021 he graduated with his OPOTA certificate from the Medina County Career Center where he received the Commander's Choice Award. Officer O'Donnell began his law enforcement career at Grafton Police Department as an Auxiliary Officer in April of 2021, then was hired as a part-time Patrolman in October of 2021. Officer O’Donnell was raised in Medina City, Montville Township and Medina Township, and is excited about serving the community.

Officer Ethan Chaperlo, #1517  E-Mailcreate new email

Officer Chaperlo joined the Medina Township Police Department in the summer of 2023. He began his career by attending the Medina County Law Enforcement Academy and graduated in 2016. Officer Chaperlo started in New London Police Dept. as reserve officer. In 2017 he accepted a Deputy position at the Huron County Sheriff’s Office.  While working in the transport division in Huron County, he accepted a part-time position in the village of Wellington in Lorain County which became full-time in 2019.

Officer Chaperlo attended LCCC where he studied Criminal Science. Some of his certifications include criminal interdiction, patrol leadership, cognitive interviewing, and rifle armorer.  He was part of Wellington’s Police Honor guard and a school resource officer. Officer Chaperlo is excited to work closely with Medina Township citizens to continue to keep a good quality of life.

Officer Shawna Yorks, #1512  E-Mailcreate new email

Officer Yorks joined the Medina Township Police Department in July of 2022. Before that, she attended The Ohio State University and graduated with an Associates Degree in General Business in 2018. Officer Clark completed the Medina County Career Center Basic Police Academy in June of 2021. Shortly after graduating, she began her career at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office in , starting in corrections as a deputy and eventually moving to the road division. Ofc. Yorks is proud to be part of the team and is looking forward long successful career at Medina Township!

Officer Aric Ubienski , #1515 E-Mailcreate new email

Officer Ubienski joined the Medina Township Police Department in the spring of 2023. He began his career as a police officer in 2020, where he later worked at Creston and New London Police Departments. Before becoming a Police Officer, Aric had the experience as a corrections officer with the Medina County Juvenile Detention Center.

Officer Ubienski prides himself in attending trainings and continuing his education. He‘s earned certifications in; Interview & Interrogation Techniques, C.I.T. (Crisis Intervention), ARIDE, Criminal Interdiction, Counter Homicide, Datamaster Senior Operator, and spent time as an SRO (School Resource Officer), to name a few. His interests include being outdoors and spending time with family and friends. He looks forward to a long career with Medina Township.

Officer Brett Harrenton, #1518  E-Mailcreate new email

Officer Harrenton joined Medina Township Police Department in October of 2023. He graduated from Black River High School and grew up in Medina County. He went on to graduate from the Medina County Career Center Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2020. Officer Harrenton joins MTPD after starting his law enforcement career in New London in 2021. He enjoys spending time with family and friends and walking his dog.