With the wealth of experience he brings to the job, the new assistant superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation understands better than most the challenges that Ohio law enforcement agencies face every day.
Before coming aboard at BCI on May 23, Bruce Pijanowski served for 34 years with the Delaware Police Department, the last 10 as chief.
“Chief Pijanowski understands that BCI’s job is to help local law enforcement,” Attorney General Dave Yost said. “And his background as a hands-on chief gives him a front-row perspective into what’s needed on the streets of Ohio.”
Pijanowski joins BCI Superintendent Joe Morbitzer and replaces recently retired Assistant Superintendent Heinz von Eckartsberg.
He started his law enforcement career as a Delaware patrol officer in 1988, steadily rising through the ranks — to detective, sergeant, detective sergeant, captain, assistant chief and chief. Along the way, he learned the roles of tactical officer, crisis negotiator, crash reconstructionist and field training officer.
“That’s the great thing about a midsize agency like Delaware,” he said. “I got the chance to do just about everything.”
Pijanowski said that being a part of BCI offers a unique opportunity to advance law enforcement statewide, a mission that ultimately makes Ohioans safer and their communities stronger.
“I’ve always known BCI to innovate, to push forward, to do things that not only professionalize law enforcement but also improve our ability to serve the public. My role now is to make sure our people have what they need to do their jobs to the best of their ability. Our success as an organization is a result of their dedication and talent. If they’re not happy, I won’t be happy.”
Morbitzer said Pijanowski’s commitment to strengthening law enforcement and his track record as a leader will help ensure BCI’s continued success as one of the nation’s outstanding crime labs.
Pijanowski, 56, is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Leadership College. He has been on the executive committee of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police since 2016 and served as chairman of the association’s legislative committee.
He and his wife, Pam, have been married for 31 years and have two adult children.