The Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) has unanimously approved the vision put forth by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Police Training.
The 11-member task force was convened by Yost in autumn 2023 to identify areas for improvement in basic and advanced peace officer training, determine recommended standards for new officers, outline expectations for instructors, and establish new training methods.
In February, the group issued seven recommendations:
- Update the Peace Officer Basic Training (POBT) curriculum.
- Establish certification levels to reflect an officer’s training and experience.
- Create a Tactical Patrol Officer Program.
- Add new technologies and incorporate elements of reality-based situational decision-making scenarios into both basic and advanced training.
- Develop integrated lesson plans across training platforms.
- Focus continuing professional training (CPT)
- so that it keeps advancing police services.
- Expand annual firearms qualifications.
Three months later, OPOTC signed off on the recommendations, which require changes at the basic academy level, including adjustments to the physical-fitness standards required to graduate.