Peace officers and troopers are required to complete 20 hours of Continuing Professional Training (CPT) this year, the most ever required in a single year and up from 11 hours last year. To be eligible for reimbursement of training costs, the CPT must include the critical subjects of:
- Trauma-Informed Policing (6 hours), which includes how to effectively engage those suffering from mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance-abuse disorders.
- Practical Application of Force (4 hours), which uses scenario-based exercises to sharpen decision-making skills regarding use of force.
- Officer and Community Wellness (4 hours), which focuses on self-awareness and strengthening the legitimacy of law enforcement in communities.
- Legal Update (2 hours), which provides an update on changes to Ohio law.
- A choice of general law enforcement topics (4 hours).
When he announced the required critical subjects on Sept. 12, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said, “Ohio has made significant strides in law enforcement training over the past several years, and next year’s 20 hours of training will help reinforce the skills officers need to protect Ohio's families each and every day.”
The increase in CPT hours follows a 2015 recommendation by Attorney General DeWine's Advisory Group on Law Enforcement Training that Ohio increase annual, advanced training for all peace officers and troopers in the state.
The Legislature then mandated that all officers and troopers take 11 hours of CPT in 2016 and 20 hours in 2017, with the subjects of the training required for reimbursement to be determined by the Ohio Attorney General.
For details on the courses, visit the
OPOTA course catalog.