COLUMBUS – Sidney Police Department has adopted and fully implemented the new state standards recently established by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board as part of the state’s efforts to strengthen community and police relations.

The agency joins Medina Police Department, Colerain Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Coldwater Police Department who recently became “certified” by meeting new statewide standards for the use of force, including deadly force, and agency recruitment and hiring. The standards are the first of their kind in Ohio and were developed by the 12-member collaborative in August 2015.

“Ohio has been determinedly working to improve community-police relations and find solutions to the tensions and concerns between community members and the police that serve them. This is the first step of that process,” said Sidney Police Chief Will Balling. “I am proud of our City and Department and their ability to meet the state guidelines and to become the fifth department receiving the state certification out of over 1,000 departments. That is a testament to their hard work and the fact that they were already conducting themselves properly and had the proper policies in place.

“Strong communication is critical to building relationships with the community. Transparency in all areas is key. Open, accessible reporting of statistics, arrest information, and any other law enforcement data is expected, even when the information provided does not paint the best picture. Internally, education and training should consistently promote community inclusion at all levels and ranks. Open communication tells the community that there is nothing to hide. The State and the City is working towards that goal,” said Balling.

The state has partnered with the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police to help certify Ohio’s nearly 1,000 law enforcement agencies on a process to ensure that they are in compliance with Ohio’s new standards.

“We are proud to announce that Sidney Police Department is joining the four other agencies in making a commitment to provide outstanding services in its community,” said Karhlton Moore, executive director of the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS).

Certifications will continue throughout 2016. The first list of all Ohio compliant agencies will be published in March 2017.

For more information on the Ohio Collaborative, the certification process for law enforcement, a list of agencies who have been certified and the Ohio Community-Police Relations Grant Program, visit http://www.ocjs.ohio.gov/ohiocollaborative/