Chief Joe Tucholski
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 1997
- Promoted to chief in 2013
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Ashtabula County Narcotics
- Served in every rank at the Middlefield Police Department to include patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant and chief.
EDUCATION
- FBI National Academy Graduate,
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Contact Chief Joe Tucholski at the Police Department, 440.632.3538 or via email at jtucholski@middlefieldpolice.com
Lieutenant Aaron Graley
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 1997
- Hired as a lieutenant in Middlefield in August 2020
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Geauga County Sheriff’s Office,
- Reynoldsburg Division of Police,
- Reminderville Police Department,
- Lakeland Community College Police Academy Instructor
EDUCATION
- Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice,
- FBI National Academy Graduate,
- Northwestern School of Police Staff & Command Graduate
- Police Executive and Administrative Leadership School Graduate
- Field Training Officer
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
- Advanced Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
- Certified D.A.R.E. Instructor
- Certified School Resource Officer
Contact Lieutenant Graley at the Police Department, 440.632.3538 or via email at agraley@middlefieldpolice.com
Administrative
Sergeant Steve Boxler
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 2011
- June 28, 2017 Hired by Middlefield Police Department
- Promoted to Sergeant in September 2022
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Portage County Sheriff’s Office
- Windham Police Department
EDUCATION
- FBI LEEDA Trilogy graduate
- Field Training Officer
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Reach Sergeant Boxler by calling the Police Department or via email at sboxler@middlefieldpolice.com
Sergeant Matthew Spitler
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 2017
- Promoted to Sergeant in 2026
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Orwell Village Police Department
- Regional SWAT Operator
- Firearms Instructor
- Field Training Officer
EDUCATION
- Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Reach Sergeant Spitler by calling the Police Department or sending email to mspitler@middlefieldpolice.com
Sergeant Robert Hamilton
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 2013
- Promoted to Sergeant in 2026
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Polk County Sheriff’s Office (Florida)
- City of Bartow Police Department (Florida)
- Crisis negotiation team
- Traffic enforcement unit
- Intelligence unit
- Field Training Officer
EDUCATION
- Level 2 Hostage Negotiator
- Advanced Traffic Crash Investigation
- Advanced Roadside Impairment Investigator
- Glock Armorer
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Contact Sergeant Hamilton at the Police Department, 440.632.3538 or via email at rhamilton@middlefieldpolice.com
Officer Dylan Conant
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 2023
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Streetsboro Police Department,
- Lake County Juvenile Detention Center
EDUCATION
- Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice
- Certified School Resource Officer
- Field Training Officer
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Officer Conant at the Police Department, 440.632.3538 or dconant@middlefieldpolice.com
Officer Cody Naftzger
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 2021
WORK EXPERIENCE
- UH Geauga Medical Center Police Department,
- Lake County Sheriff’s Office
EDUCATION
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
- Certified School Resource Officer
Reach Officer Naftzger at the Police Department, 440.632.3538 or cnaftzger@middlefieldpolice.com
Officer Luke Friend
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 2025.
EDUCATION
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
- Certified School Resource Officer
Reach Officer Friend at the Police Department, 440.632.3538 or lfriend@middlefieldpolice.com
Officer Brandon Peska
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 2010
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
EDUCATION
- Associate Degree in Criminal Justice
- Sergeant
- K9 Handler
- Assistant SWAT Team Leader
- OPOTA Certified Sniper
- Field Training Officer
- Certified Explosives Breacher
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
- Certified School Resource Officer
Reach Officer Peska at the Police Department, 440.632.3538 or brandonp@middlefieldpolice.com
Officer Khaled Abu-Ghannam
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 2014
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Struthers Police Department
- Mercy Health Police Department
- Goshen Police Department
- Lisbon Police Department
- Hubbard Township Police Department
EDUCATION
- Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice
- Bilingual: Speaks the Arabic Language fluently
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Reach Officer Abu-Ghannam at the Police Department, 440.632.3538 or kabu@middlefieldpolice.com
Officer Riley Lance
Certified School Resource Officer
YEARS OF SERVICE
- Began his law enforcement career in 2023
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Summa Health Police Department
- Holden Arboretum Police Department
- Summit County Sheriff’s Office
- Lake Erie Correctional Institution
EDUCATION
- Certified Field Training Officer
- Certified Evidence Technician
Reach Officer Lance at the Police Department, 440.632.3538 or rlance@middlefieldpolice.com