Marcus Sprague is a retired 25-year veteran of the Santa Rosa Police Department in Northern California, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant and Division Commander for Investigative Functions. Throughout his career, he specialized in homicide investigations, violent crime enforcement, narcotics operations, and tactical response strategies. His leadership extended to SWAT operations, K9 programs, drone unit management, and critical incident response.

Professional Experience

• Santa Rosa Police Department (1998–2022)

  • Lieutenant, Special Services Division – Oversaw Investigations, Homicide, Violent Crimes, Sexual Assault, Narcotics, and the Crime Lab
  • Lieutenant, Field Operations Division – Served as Watch Commander and managed K9 and UAS programs
  • Tactical Commander for SWAT, Mobile Field Force, Tactical Dispatch, and EOC – Law Enforcement Branch
  • Sergeant, Property Crimes Team – Supervised Investigative Unit and Forensic Identification Lab
  • SWAT Operator (2004–2016, 2018–2022)
    • Served as Sniper, Team Leader, and Tactical Commander
    • Developed training, policies, and operational strategies for SWAT team deployment

• California Association of Tactical Officers (CATO) (2017–Present)

  • Former Vice President and Executive Director
  • Instructor for SWAT Team Leader, SWAT Commander, and Critical Incident Leadership
  • Led curriculum development for SWAT Guidelines, Supervisor School, and Management School

• Ohio Tactical Officers Association (OTOA) (2025–Present)

  • Director of Training
  • Oversees tactical training, leadership development, and critical incident response strategies

Areas of Expertise

• Tactical Leadership and SWAT Operations
• Critical Incident Response and Command
• Firearms Training and Advanced Marksmanship
• Law Enforcement Training and Development
• Drone and K9 Program Management

Education

• Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership – University of San Diego (2019)
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – California Coast University (2017)

Marcus Sprague’s operational experience and instructional expertise continue to shape the next generation of law enforcement professionals and tactical leaders.

Contact: marcus.sprague@otoa.org