Most law enforcement officers in Ohio work for departments that are certified in Ohio’s special use-of-force standards. According to Governor Mike DeWine, nearly 80% of Ohio’s law enforcement officers work for agencies that have completed or are in the process of completing that training.
He’s encouraging all law enforcement agencies in Ohio to get going on this important training. “Regardless of why some agencies have not become certified, I’m encouraging the 400 plus agencies that are not certified to begin working on this process today. I’ve directed Ohio Criminal Justice Services to reach out to these agencies to assist them in any way they can.”
This certification is not to be confused with accreditation. The training is not mandatory. The State does strongly recommend it.
Which Departments Are Certified?
DeWine released a report showing which departments have completed the training. So, where does Scioto County stand? Only 28% of the population is covered by agencies that are certified or in the process of certification.
Let’s break it down:
- The New Boston Police Department has completed all three phases of certification.
- Shawnee State University’s Police Department has completed phase two of the training.
- The Portsmouth Police Department is in the process of completing phase one.
The Scioto County Sheriff’s Office is not listed as having started or completed any phase of the training.
Group 1 training focuses on knowing when force is permissible.
- employees may only use the force which is reasonably necessary to effect lawful objectives including:
- effecting a lawful arrest or overcoming resistance to a lawful arrest
- preventing the escape of an offender
- protecting or defending others or themselves from physical harm.
Group 2 training focuses on building mutual respect with trust within the community. It includes:
- establishing community relations policies
- determining policies for the use of body and dash cams and managing the data
- training officers to accurately take and prioritize reports
Group 3 training deals with bias-free policing and includes:
- a prohibition against biased-based profiling in traffic contacts, field contacts, and in asset seizure and forfeiture efforts.
- training all agency enforcement personnel in biased-based profiling issues and the relevant legal aspects.
- corrective measures if biased-based profiling occurs.
- the collection of data on all self-initiated traffic contacts to include, at a minimum, the race and gender of the driver of the vehicle stopped.
Acceptable Training methods include:
- classroom or equivalent
- utilization of nationally recognized dispatcher training
- training developed by individual agencies to meet the specific needs of their communities.
The status of other local agencies:
- Pike County Sheriff’s Office – Group 1 certified.
- Jackson County Sheriff’s Office – Group 3 certified.
- Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office – In the process of Group 1
- Adams County – no training listed.