Officer Michael Wright recognized for interagency cooperation 

CITY of LOVELAND: Krista Rose 

LOVELAND, OH (January 13, 2023) – City of Loveland Officer Michael Wright was recognized at the Hamilton County Police Association’s Annual Awards & Installation Banquet held Jan. 12 in Montgomery.

LPD Officer Michael Wright with award in hand (Provided)

Wright was a co-recipient of the Clarence “Cid” Caesar (Cincinnati P.D.) Award for Investigation Demonstrating Interagency Cooperation to recognize his work with multiple agencies during a 2022 credit card skimmer investigation. Senior Special Agent Rick Naltner of the United States Secret Service (USSS) also received the award.

Loveland Police  Department (LPD) Chief Michael Gabrielson explained what led to the recognition for Officer Writght and Agent Rick Naltner. 

“The cooperation by Officer Wright with local, state, and federal authorities uncovered a series of crimes affecting our region,” said Gabrielson. “Their combined efforts led to the identification of suspects who have been charged with numerous federal crimes.” 

 In the investigation, Wright was contacted by a Loveland citizen who believed her credit card had been compromised. Wright discovered covert credit card skimmers added to the gas pumps at a local station.

Senior Special Agent Rick Naltner of the United States Secret Service (left) and LPD Officer Michael Wright (right) both received the award for their cooperative efforts (Provided)

Ultimately, Wright arranged for the USSS to collect the skimmers for analysis, which located two suspects responsible for sizeable financial losses to citizens and businesses across Greater Cincinnati. With assistance from the numerous agencies where the crimes were committed, the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, USSS and LPD, the suspects were charged with credit card fraud, also known as access device fraud.

Wright joined LPD in July 2021. He previously worked for the Pigeon Forge (Tennessee) Police Department and US Department of State. While patrol work is his current focus, he has experience in investigations, SWAT, protective detail, officer instruction, Spanish translation, and community relations. Wright holds a Master’s in Justice Administration from the University of the Cumberlands.