Northern District of Ohio

United States Marshal Peter J. Elliott

U.S. Marshal Peter J. Elliott

On March 10, 2003, Peter J. Elliott was appointed by President George W. Bush as United States Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio after being unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. In 2009, Marshal Elliott was officially retained by President Barack Obama to continue his service. Marshal Elliott is the 26th overall U.S. Marshal appointed in the district and the longest serving United States Marshal in over a half of a century for the Northern District of Ohio which was created in 1855. Marshal Elliott is responsible for the management, administration, and direction of operations throughout the district, which consists of the northern forty counties. He is responsible for leading and directing a staff whose core missions include security and protection of the United States Courts, criminal investigations, execution of federal court orders and other law enforcement activities.

Marshal Elliott grew up in Lakewood, Ohio and graduated from St. Edward High School, Cuyahoga Community College and then Capital University with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. He is a third generation law enforcement officer whose law enforcement career has spanned over 29 years. He worked undercover narcotics then followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Deputy United States Marshal. He later became an ATF Agent investigating terrorism, firearms and explosives cases.

 

Marshal Elliott has created many new and innovative programs to further the mission of the US Marshals Service, to increase collaboration between federal, state and local agencies and to involve the community in making their streets safer. Most notably, Marshal Elliott created the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force which has arrested over 30,000 fugitives since its inception in 2003 and now includes over 100 partner agencies and over 300 law enforcement officers. Marshal Elliott also created the Fugitive Safe Surrender Program in which law enforcement partners with the local faith based community and encourages fugitives to surrender at a local place of worship. This highly successful program has been duplicated across the country and has led to the peaceful surrender of thousands of fugitives. He has partnered with local media outlets to highlight the most wanted fugitives of our area and has established anonymous tip and text lines for tipsters to submit information on fugitives.

Marshal Elliott has been recognized with numerous national and local awards for his work, including the “Distinguished Service Medal” from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, “Investigative Excellence Award” from the Federal Law Enforcement Officer’s Association, “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, “Leadership Beyond the Standard Award” from the Director of the Marshal’s Service, “Top Cop” by the National Association of Police Organizations, “Police Officer of the Year” by the Cleveland Police Memorial Society and the “Outstanding Leadership Award” from the retired Ohio Police Chief’s Association. Marshal Elliott was named one of the “50 Most Influential People” in Northern Ohio by Cleveland Magazine and has been honored by members of the United States Congress on numerous occasions for his innovations and success.