Ohio law enforcement officers will receive four hours of professional training in 2014, one hour related to crimes against families and three on general law enforcement topics.
Continuing professional training (CPT) for peace officers and troopers will be required next year for the first time since 2010. Funds to help compensate agencies for officers’ training time and expenses will come from Ohio casino tax revenue designated for law enforcement training.
To determine the best use for those funds, Attorney General Mike DeWine convened an advisory group of state and local law enforcement earlier this year. The group recommended:
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Dedicating $2.8 million to fund four CPT hours in 2014
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Committing 50 percent of casino revenues that exceed projections to fund future CPTs
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Designating the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) to determine one hour of “critical subject training” for all officers, with the other three hours to be selected from OPOTA-approved curricula
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Continuing the free, direct-service training available through OPOTA’s Mobile Academy
The Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission approved the advisory group’s recommendations in September.
“Local law enforcement representatives stressed the importance of continuing to make progress toward the goal of eight hours of funded CPTs in the next five years,” Attorney General DeWine said. “CPT hours are important for local law enforcement, and I will continue working to increase funding for law enforcement training.”