Napoleon A. Bell II is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Franklin County Sheriff’s office. He began his public service career as a Police Officer for the City of Columbus. He dedicated over 23 years to the City of Columbus serving in roles such as Patrol Officer, Community Liaison Officer, and Executive Director for the City of Columbus Community Relations Commission (CRC). As Executive Director of the CRC, Napoleon oversaw enforcement of the Columbus Civil Rights Code in housing, employment, and public accommodations, The New Americans Initiative, Diversity and Cultural Competency training, Community Police Relations, and community outreach and engagement. His early accomplishment as Director was to successfully have added Gender Identity and Expression as a protected class to the Civil Rights Code.  

His passion for education and awareness led to him to co-found “The Heritage Tours,” an initiative of the nonprofit The Heritage Projects, with his wife, Toni. Each year, their flagship project called The Civil Rights Heritage Tour of the South takes a one-week bus tour from Columbus, Ohio through 6 states and 25 venues through the US South. What makes their tour unique is the age range of passengers:  13 – 80+.  They take teachers, students, and members of the general public. Meaning, people who likely lived through some of the Civil Rights Era, and young people who may know little about it.  This is an experiential learning opportunity that has proven to be timely and incredibly meaningful for each person the Tour touches. 

Bell attended The Ohio State University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Capital University. He is also a certified Instructor through Ohio Police Officers Training Academy (OPOTA) and Certified Diversity Professional through Diversity First Inc.