Buckeye Reporter

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) has unanimously endorsed the recommendations of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Police Training. This move marks a significant advancement in the transformation of law enforcement training in Ohio.

Yost commented, “Law enforcement officers face unprecedented challenges daily, and it’s our duty to equip them with the best-in-class training and support they deserve. We have updated training in pieces, but now with the commission’s approval, we can wholistically overhaul the training criteria to better equip officers with the training and tools they need to protect themselves and Ohioans.”

In fall 2023, Attorney General Yost convened the Blue Ribbon Task Force to identify areas for improvement in basic and continuing peace officer training, establish recommended standards for new officers, outline expectations for instructors, and develop new training methods.

The seven primary recommendations that OPOTC has now approved include amending the Peace Officer Basic Training (POBT) curriculum to reflect contemporary police services; establishing certification levels to reflect an officer’s training and experience; creating a Tactical Patrol Officer Program; incorporating new technologies into both basic and advanced training while including elements of reality-based situational decision-making scenarios; developing integrated lesson plans across training platforms; focusing Continuing Professional Training (CPT) so that it advances police services; and expanding annual firearms qualifications.

The task force, led by OPOTA Executive Director Tom Quinlan, released a special report in February detailing their recommendations and proposed solutions. Quinlan emphasized that these suggestions do not signify a critique of previously state-approved training protocols but offer an updated guide.

Quinlan added, “It is important to note that the recommendations are interdependent, and the best results will be realized when the combined strategies complement one another over time.”

Significantly, implementing these recommendations necessitates changes at the basic academy level. This includes adjustments to physical fitness standards required for graduation. Academies will also replace 72 hours of outdated curriculum with new courses on active shooter and threat response, critical decision making, crisis mitigation and de-escalation, communications and mediation, and incident debrief.

Amendments to the Ohio Administrative Code will be required to alter Peace Officer Basic Training. Yost’s office will collaborate with the General Assembly on necessary changes as part of the implementation process.