PIQUA — Edison State Community College’s Peace Officer Academy honored 14 students in December following their successful completion of the 20-week program.
Local students among them were Bryan Doak, of Anna, and Bevan Gill, Austin Knight, Craig O’Meara, all of Sidney.
Students of the program met for six days each week since August, totaling more than 600 hours of training. The curriculum of the program is certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) and covers all aspects of law enforcement training including administration, firearms, subject control and investigation.
“The Basic Police Academy has proven to be a great partnership between the college and the community. Local law enforcement came to us because there was no local training source,” said Shirley Moore, Dean of Business, Engineering, and Information Technology at Edison State.
“In turn, many of our students have become officers throughout the region, though they are certified to seek an officer position anywhere in the state. Academy students can then continue their education at Edison State and earn an associate’s degree by taking convenient classes on campus or online.”
Edison State offered the first Basic Peace Officer Academy in 2003 and the class that completed academic requirements this fall was from the thirty-first academy. Throughout its thirteen years, the program has graduated 415 students, 87 percent male, and 13 percent female, with 73 percent under the age of 30 and 27 percent of students have been 30 or over.
Students in the program have come from 14 different counties, with 50 percent from Miami County, 19 percent from Darke County, and 18 percent from Shelby County. Over the years, 76 percent of the Edison graduates who passed the state exam have become sworn officers in 53 different police agencies throughout the state.
“Local agencies are hiring and 100% of our June academy graduates that passed the OPOTA exam have been sworn in as officers,” said Joe Mahan, Edison State Police Officer Academy Commander.
Edison State began the basic peace officer academy at the request of local law enforcement and continue to have instructors who are current and retired officers. Thirty-five instructors have worked with the students.
Applications for Edison State’s Police Officer Academy are currently being accepted for the fall 2016 Academy. Interested students must be 21 and eligible to own a weapon. Both a morning and evening academy will be offered.
For more information or to apply for the upcoming fall academy, email [email protected] or call 937-778-7865.
