Mary Davis brings experience in local law enforcement and curriculum development to her position as head of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. Here, she shares insight and plans for OPOTA.
On priorities of the coming year
OPOTA’s leadership and staff have worked hard to open the lines of communication with local law enforcement in recent years. It’s definitely my priority to make sure our customers know this openness will continue.
I’d also like to focus on a mental health campaign — an initiative that addresses officers’ handling of mental health service calls and an awareness of their own mental wellness. I know from experience that the law enforcement profession is stressful, and it can take a lot out of a person. There’s a lot of good that can come from officers understanding their mental wellness and that of others who need their help.
Also, since we haven’t had continuing professional training (CPT) requirements for a few years, I want to make sure training options are feasible and the reporting and reimbursement process is simple and streamlined. We don’t want to see an agency’s services or an officer’s certification jeopardized for failure to meet the statutory requirement related to 2014’s four required CPT hours. To that end, we’ve pre-approved numerous course requests, added electronic courses to eOPOTA, and provided written lesson plans to help agencies meet training and reimbursement requirements.
On ensuring OPOTA meets local agencies’ needs
I regularly speak with administrators about training topics, and the training officers get a lot of new course ideas from their students. I also frequently hear from the Attorney General’s regional representatives about needs in a particular area, which we try to meet in terms of course content and practical arrangements.
On the most important aspects of providing law enforcement training
There are many, but it comes down to this: When you need to act, you can only perform as well as you’ve been trained. Our responsibility at OPOTA is to make pertinent training available. The priorities of training are getting everyone home safely and also giving officers the tools they need to complete investigations and find the truth.
On the expertise of the OPOTA staff
We want the most knowledgeable experts to teach our classes, whether an Attorney General’s Office employee or someone we contract with. We still hire experts to teach specialized topics, but we’re putting a lot of effort into attracting the most talented experts to add to our staff.
On updates to the peace officer basic training curriculum
On July 1, we will complete the revision of the entire 100-plus topics to reflect the results of our 2011 job task analysis. At that point, the entire curriculum will be in line with what our newest officers and their supervisors said were the most important skills officers need when entering the field. This cycle will continue every three years. We hope to complete regular job task analyses to ensure the content stays relevant.
On OPOTA’s emphasis on customer service
Good customer service has been a priority in the three years I’ve been here, and that will continue. I’ll take any call or respond to any email, and my team knows I welcome questions, concerns, and constructive criticism from the field. I rarely hear from someone who is unhappy about the service they received. Being respectful in addition to taking pride in solving problems goes a long way, and both are expected.
On this year’s Law Enforcement Conference
Preparations are ongoing for the October conference, which will focus on protecting Ohio’s seniors. Our elderly citizens are growing in number and can be vulnerable, especially to economic and cybercrimes. Some of our workshops will address these topics.
The Mary Davis File
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Current position: Executive director of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and Commission
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Previous jobs: OPOTC deputy director of education and policy; OPOTA law enforcement training officer; chief, assistant chief, and sergeant with the Hocking College Police Department; Athens County sheriff’s deputy
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Education: She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Ohio University and a master of business administration degree with a concentration in leadership from Franklin University.
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Family: She and her husband, Brian, have two teenage sons.
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For fun: 3-D target shooting and deer hunting with compound bows
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Words to live by: “We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason; listen twice as much as you speak.”