On the Job 

Ohio law now requires the collection of a DNA specimen from all adult felony arrestees. Here are some resources the Attorney General’s Office provides to help law enforcement agencies comply with the new law, which took full effect July 1:

At the direction of the Attorney General, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) is stepping up regional and online offerings to help law enforcement agencies cope with limited training and travel budgets.

OPOTA offered 110 regional trainings to about 5,300 attendees last year. Executive Director Bob Fiatal wants to double that in 2011. And in June, the academy attracted about 300 registrants for its first two webinars, a training option Fiatal expects to offer with increasing frequency.

Attorney General’s Office to lead Fugitive Safe Surrender

Cleveland Police Officer Wayne Leon was conducting what appeared to be a routine traffic stop in June 2000 when the man he pulled over drew a weapon and shot him in the head. Leon died the next day. His killer, who remains on Ohio’s death row, testified that he shot Leon to avoid being arrested on an outstanding warrant.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference — set for Oct. 13–14 in Columbus — will feature three top-notch speakers, 30 workshops, and the Distinguished Law Enforcement Awards Luncheon.

In Kentucky v. King, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in May that police can enter an apartment without a warrant to prevent the imminent destruction of evidence as long as they do not engage or threaten to engage in conduct that violates the Fourth Amendment.

Law enforcement officers from throughout the state joined grieving family members May 5 to remember the four Ohio officers who gave their lives in 2010 and honor a historical nominee.

Held on the grounds of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) in London, the Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony honored:

Law enforcement agencies can decrease the turnaround time for individual cases by:

Protecting Ohio’s families and children requires a great deal of cooperation among many professionals in state government and local law enforcement. Since my swearing-in ceremony in January, we have been working hard to raise the standard of service that the Ohio Attorney General’s Office — especially BCI — delivers to our law enforcement partners.

I recently had the opportunity to observe driver training at the Peel Regional Police Department in Ontario, Canada, which trains officers in emergency response, pursuit, and rolling road blocks on city streets amid civilian traffic. While not advocating that approach here, I have incorporated some of their concepts into driving courses at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. I suggest law enforcement agencies do the same within their trainings and day-to-day operations. For example:

Evidence for BCI testing can be submitted at several locations. Addresses, hours, and contact numbers are: