Federal officials have acknowledged a Defiance County law enforcement officer.

Federal officials have acknowledged a Defiance County law enforcement officer for his involvement in an investigation into child exploitation. In a partnership, Steven Mueller, the county prosecutor’s investigator-a new role established in that office last year-was acknowledged. The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio specifically honored him and the Toledo RA Northwest Ohio Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force the “2025 Partnership of the Year” for the Toledo area. Toledo is home to that office, which prosecutes federal offenses.