Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today announced the appointment of Cathy Collins-Taylor as the director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

 

Collins-Taylor, 52, has served as the executive director of the Ohio Investigative Unit at the Department of Public Safety since March 2007. She will assume the position of director of Public Safety effective on September 19.

 

“Cathy is an experienced professional whose background in law enforcement and safety has prepared her to lead the Ohio Department of Public Safety,” Strickland said.  “I am confident that Cathy will be able to work with the divisions within ODPS to ensure the agency is running effectively and efficiently, and with the safety and wellbeing of the public at its forefront.”

 

As executive director of the Ohio Investigative Unit, Collins-Taylor oversees the enforcement of state, federal and local laws with emphasis on liquor, food stamp and tobacco offenses and offers education and professional assistance to law enforcement agencies and the public. She has worked to bring consistency to the seven enforcement offices and oversaw the implementation of new systems and tools that allow agents to more effectively carry out investigations.

 

As executive director, Collins-Taylor has also upgraded agency policies in order to make the division compliant with the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies.

 

Collins-Taylor previously served as a branch chief of State and Local Coordination and Domestic Security for Ohio Homeland Security, where she oversaw the creation of the Ohio Response System by coordinating resources from local and state first responders and state agencies.

 

Prior to joining ODPS, Collins-Taylor spent 26 years in the Columbus Police Department, retiring from active duty in September 2004.  She was the first female motorcycle officer in the department’s history and helped establish the Exploited Children’s Unit. Additionally, Collins-Taylor has served as an instructor at the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy.

 

"I'm honored to accept this opportunity to lead an agency that I've called home for more than five years," said Collins-Taylor. "I look forward to continuing to work with the dedicated staff at the Department of Public Safety as we move forward with the department's critical mission of education, service and protection."

 

Collins-Taylor is a past recipient of the City of Columbus Outstanding Women in Government Award.   She graduated from the Ohio State University in 1977 and Columbus Police Academy in 1978.

 

As director of ODPS, Collins-Taylor will receive a salary of $128,544.

 

Collins-Taylor resides in Columbus with her husband, Mike, and two daughters.