MICHAEL TRAVERSA
Columbus,OH
Summary
Experienced law enforcement officer with a strong background in violent offender apprehension, fugitive investigations, and multi-agency task force operations. Proven success working alongside federal partners including ATF and U.S. Marshals to identify, track, and arrest high-priority offenders. Skilled in surveillance, warrant execution, intelligence analysis, and case development from investigation through prosecution.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Patrol Officer / Investigator
Columbus Division of Police
12.2021 - Current
- Felony Assault Non-Fatal Shooting Team (April 2025 – December 2025)
- Led complex investigations into non-fatal shootings involving violent offenders and gang members
- Identified and apprehended suspects using intelligence tools including NIBIN and ShotSpotter
- Managed cases from initial response through prosecution, coordinating with prosecutors and federal partners
- Collaborated with specialized units and federal agencies to target repeat violent offenders
Patrol Officer – Zones 3 & 6
12.2021 - Current
- Respond to emergency calls and conduct proactive patrol operations
- Serve as first responder for violent crime scenes and initiate investigations
- Coordinate with investigative units and external agencies for ongoing cases
Gang Investigations Unit
05.2024 - 10.2024
- Conducted covert and plainclothes operations targeting gang members and violent offenders
- Developed confidential informants and intelligence sources leading to arrests and seizures
- Authored and executed search warrants for digital evidence, residences, and communications data
- Supported prosecution of criminal gang cases under Ohio Revised Code 2923.42
Wedgewood Enforcement Team
10.2023 - 05.2024
- Participated in focused enforcement operations targeting high-crime areas and violent offenders
- Assisted in 160 arrests, seizure of 59 firearms, and 2,957 grams of narcotics
- Worked jointly with ATF, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies
- Conducted surveillance and intelligence gathering on organized criminal groups
Education
No Degree - Sports Management
West Liberty University
West Liberty, WVNo Degree - Sports Management
Otterbein University
Westerville, OHNo Degree - Liberal Arts And Sciences
Columbus State Community College
Columbus, OHNo Degree - Sports Management
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OHSkills
- Fugitive Apprehension & Warrant Execution
- Federal Task Force Collaboration
- Surveillance & Covert Operations
- Criminal Investigations (Violent Crime & Gangs)
- Intelligence Gathering & Analysis (NIBIN, ShotSpotter)
- Confidential Informant Development
- Search Warrants (Digital & Physical)
- Firearms & Narcotics Investigations
- Courtroom Testimony & Case Prosecution
- Interagency Coordination
- Firearms identification, test firing, and DNA processing
- NIBIN analysis and crime gun intelligence development
- Confidential source handling within diverse communities
- Multi-agency coordination across local, state, and federal levels
Accomplishments
- Led investigations resulting in multiple attempted murder and felony assault charges against gang members
- Coordinated operations resulting in full apprehension of identified suspects in multiple shooting cases
- Identified and disrupted ongoing gang conflicts through intelligence-driven enforcement strategies
- Recovered firearms and narcotics while dismantling organized criminal activity
Certification
- Criminal Intelligence Systems (28 CFR Part 23) Certified
- Case Explorer On-Demand (Deconfliction)
- Advanced training in social media investigations and electronic surveillance
- Extensive experience with Cellebrite and digital forensic extraction tools
Timeline
Gang Investigations Unit
05.2024 - 10.2024
Wedgewood Enforcement Team
10.2023 - 05.2024
Patrol Officer / Investigator
Columbus Division of Police
12.2021 - Current
Patrol Officer – Zones 3 & 6
12.2021 - Current
No Degree - Sports Management
West Liberty University
No Degree - Sports Management
Otterbein University
No Degree - Liberal Arts And Sciences
Columbus State Community College
No Degree - Sports Management
The Ohio State University
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
U.S. Department of Justice – ATF Certificate of Appreciation (2023-08), U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Ohio – Certificate of Recognition & Excellence (2024-04)
INVESTIGATIVE & FEDERAL TASK FORCE EXPERIENCE
- Extensive collaboration with U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, and Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC)
- Participated in joint operations targeting violent fugitives, gang members, and firearms offenders
- Conducted surveillance operations including covert mobile tracking and GPS monitoring
- Executed complex warrants: residential, digital, geofence, cell phone, and social media
- Assisted in identification, tracking, and apprehension of high-priority offenders
KEY INVESTIGATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Managed caseloads involving attempted murder, homicide, kidnapping, armed robbery, and weapons offenses
- Identified crime patterns and led coordinated enforcement operations
- Conducted interviews with victims, witnesses, and suspects to build prosecutable cases
- Testified as an expert witness in felony cases in Common Pleas and Juvenile Court
- Facilitated prosecutorial coordination including proffers with county and U.S. attorneys
- Authored and executed Pen Register/Trap & Trace warrants by establishing clear nexus between target devices and violent offenders or fugitives, leveraging non-content call data to identify associates, track movement patterns, and support real-time apprehension operations while ensuring full legal compliance