Mark Kollar
Mark Kollar currently serves as the special agent-in-charge for a state criminal investigative agency. In this capacity, he oversees the use-of-force investigations conducted by bureau investigators statewide, in addition to all of the units within the Technical Investigations Division. Kollar previously led the Major Crimes Division, Special Investigations Unit, for one-quarter of the state. The special agents he supervised conduct high-profile criminal investigations, including those centered on officer-involved shootings, homicides, serial crimes, public official corruption, sexual assaults and large-scale financial crimes.
During a law enforcement career that has spanned nearly three decades, Kollar has
served in multiple capacities, including stints in patrol, narcotics, crime scene and the
detective bureau as well as various supervisory roles. Kollar also formed his agency’s Major Case Response Team. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 285th session in Quantico, Virginia.
Kollar has an associate degree from Hocking College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Ohio University. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree from the University of Virginia. Additionally, he is an author who has written several books and is a regular contributor to Police1 and other law enforcement publications. Most recently, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office published his textbook, Best Practices for Investigating an Officer-Involved Critical Incident. He also serves as a national instructor for the Public Agency Training Council, primarily focusing on officer-involved shooting and use-of-force investigative courses.
The Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission has awarded Mark the designations of “Master Criminal Investigator” and “Master Evidence Technician” based upon the successful completion of specialized courses of study in those areas. Additionally, he received multiple commendations and honors for the cases he has been involved with, including the Ohio Attorney General’s Distinguished Law Enforcement Group Achievement Award on multiple occasions. He has lectured extensively to audiences from eight countries in the areas of officer-involved shooting and homicide investigation and public corruption. To-date, Kollar has instructed more than 1000 law enforcement investigators on the methodology for investigating police use-of-force incidents.
Mark is married with two adult daughters. He is a licensed private airplane pilot and enjoys alpine mountaineering, running, skiing, and woodworking (primarily making fountain pens).
The Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission has awarded Mark the designations of “Master Criminal Investigator” and “Master Evidence Technician” based upon the successful completion of specialized courses of study in those areas. He has additionally received multiple commendations and honors for the cases he has been involved with, including the Ohio Attorney General’s Distinguished Law Enforcement Group Achievement Award on multiple occasions. He has lectured extensively to audiences from 8 countries in the areas of officer-involved shooting and homicide investigation, public corruption, and other topics such as “Management of Multi-Fatality Crimes Scenes” during a FBI National Academy Associates retrainer.
Mark is married with two daughters, both currently in college. He is a licensed private airplane pilot and enjoys alpine mountaineering, running, skiing, and woodworking (primarily making fountain pens). In addition to his primary career, he also owns two small businesses and is in the process of completing his third book.