COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's Blue Ribbon Task Force announced recommended changes for the future of police training in the state.
The task force was formed last year to identify areas of improvement in training, determine standards for new officers, outline expectations for instructors and establish new training methods.
On Wednesday, the task force released a special report that had seven recommendations:
- Amend the Peace Officer Basic Training (POBT) curriculum to reflect contemporary police services;
- Establish certification levels to reflect an officer’s training and experience;
- Create a Tactical Patrol Officer Program;
- Add new technologies while incorporating elements of reality-based situational decision-making scenarios into both basic and advanced training;
- Develop integrated lesson plans across training platforms;
- Focus on Continuing Professional Training (CPT) so that it keeps advancing police services and
- Expand annual firearms qualifications.
As part of the suggested changes to help improve recruitment and retention, the task force also proposed an adjusted standard to the physical fitness test required to graduate from a basic academy.
The group also recommends replacing lecture-style courses with training platforms featuring scenario-based practical applications that will help peace officers better retain and put the knowledge into practice.
“Our goal is simple: Today’s law enforcement agencies need to be ready for today’s problems,” Yost said. “Police training in Ohio has been patched together, with a course added here and there to address a timely need. We took a step back so that we could move forward with a holistic approach. We want Ohio to serve as a national model by offering the best, most relevant training available year after year.”
These recommendations will next be presented to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission for consideration of adoption, and to the legislature for their help in amending what was proposed.