Major Chris Allen joined the United States Army with the 101st Airborne Division in 1995, serving on active duty until the end of 1998. Major Allen began his career in law enforcement in 2006 as a corrections officer at the Clermont County Jail; he was selected as a deputy for the road patrol in 2007. From 2008 to 2013, he served as a Batavia Township contract car; in 2013, he was assigned to the investigative unit as a Detective. In 2019, he was promoted to sergeant on the road patrol and designated as a shift supervisor until 2021, when he was promoted to Road Patrol Captain, where he managed the road patrol and the Special Response Team. In 2023, Major Allen took on new responsibilities as the head of the Investigations Unit, comprised of six full-time detectives, one Investigative Sergeant, and the Clermont County Narcotics Unit, all responsible for handling high-priority investigative needs.
Major Allen was certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Association in 2003. He received a degree in applied sciences from the University of Cincinnati with an emphasis in criminal justice in 2019. He was a Special Response team member from 2012- 2018, serving as a sniper & tactical team leader after completing FBI Sniper School in New Jersey and Basic Swat with the City of Cincinnati. Major Allen attended advanced investigative courses, including Homicide Investigation at the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute and CVSA (Certified Voice Stress Analysis) operator. Major Allen was the recipient of the Sheriff Commendation Award in 2014, and the Sheriff Merit Award in 2015; both were awarded for his investigative efforts. Major Allen received five other criminal investigative awards during his time as a Detective.
In June 2022, Major Allen graduated from the Public Safety Leadership Academy at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University. This eleven-week leadership program is designed for senior law enforcement officers across the state and covers contemporary policing, leadership styles, budgeting, strategic planning, organizational theory, culture, and communication.
In January 2025, Allen, then Captain, was promoted to Major, assuming command of Criminal Operations at the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office. In this role, he oversees Court Services, Road Patrol, Investigations, the Special Response Team, Task Force One Dive Team, the Clermont County Narcotics Unit, and the Sheriffs fiscal operating budget demonstrating his continued dedication to public safety and leadership in law enforcement.
