On the Job: Criminal Justice Update RSS

20th Two Days in May attracts more than 1,000

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s 20th annual Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance attracted 1,065 attendees to take part in 35 workshops and several general sessions in mid-May.

A conversation with Ohio’s Attorney General

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

‘The job of the attorney general is to assist local law enforcement — the sheriffs, police, prosecutors, and coroners — in doing their jobs. If we can help them become more effective through the tools we have, then we’re doing our job.’

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has made it a priority to assist and support the work of local law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim advocates. Here are some topics he covered during a recent interview:

Addressing the epidemic

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is prepared to help local authorities fight Ohio’s prescription drug abuse epidemic on multiple fronts.

Unintentional drug overdoses killed 1,373 Ohioans in 2009, an average of nearly four a day.

AG pursues scammers

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:31:12 GMT

The Consumer Protection Section’s Economic Crimes Division helps local law enforcement and prosecutors identify, investigate, and prosecute consumer fraud of a criminal nature.

AG targets criminals who prey on children

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:52:27 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's new Crimes Against Children Initiative is a comprehensive plan to target sex offenders who prey on kids.

AG to partner with BGSU on new facility

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:52:16 GMT

A plan to build the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s new Northwest Ohio office on the Bowling Green State University campus offers benefits for law enforcement in that region and the field of forensic science in general.

Appeals Section, prosecutors team up on Ohio Supreme Court cases

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:05:00 GMT

By Mary Alice Casey

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office stands ready to assist county prosecutors’ offices in their cases before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Attorney General takes steps to reduce turnaround times for DNA testing

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) is working to reduce lab turnaround times for DNA testing by streamlining processes, adding staff, and increasing the use of technology.

Attorney General’s staff updating basic peace officer curriculum

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:08:00 GMT

In addition to its role in overseeing advanced peace officer training, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) sets the curricula for basic peace officer training as well as that of parole, probation, and corrections officers; jailers; bailiffs; private security officers; and humane agents.

Awards recognize peace officers’ contributions

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:05:30 GMT

On the day Morrow County Deputy Brandon Moore was shot five times while investigating an alleged marijuana plot, the hospital waiting room was shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement. That camaraderie was evident again in October when Moore and dozens of his peers were presented with Distinguished Law Enforcement Awards at the Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference.

BCI earns casino duties

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:47:44 GMT

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will provide investigative and security services for casinos expected to open this year in Cleveland and Toledo. The Ohio Casino Control Commission tapped BCI for the role, which it will carry out through a Casino Gaming Unit.

BCI ramps up sexual assault kit testing

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:19:42 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine encourages law enforcement agencies to submit for testing all sexual assault kits tied to cases in which they believe a crime occurred. Submitting all kits, even old ones, helps ensure that available sex offender DNA is added to state and federal databases.

BCI works to reduce lab times

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

To reduce turnaround times, the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation’s Laboratory Division is undergoing a comprehensive analysis, hiring additional personnel, and adding more technology.

“As of the end of 2010, law enforcement agencies needing evidence tested for DNA were looking at a total turnaround time of 125 days,” Attorney General Mike DeWine said. “We can — and will — do better than that.”

CART welcomes participation, suggestions

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:14:48 GMT

The first three hours after a child’s abduction are critical in determining whether the child will be found alive. If an abductor intends to kill a child, 74 percent do so within those first few hours.

Ceremony honors Ohio’s fallen officers

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:42:06 GMT

Father Kevin Lutz has a lot of heroes, and law enforcement officers are near the top of his list — with good reason.

Courses offer vital guidance in handling abuse

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:15:41 GMT

Finding the right words in a difficult situation can be challenging for anyone. Finding the right words to allow a child to disclose abuse takes training.

Evidence receiving sites

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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

Families of those lost reach out to help others

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Wesley Workman was personable and popular. A gifted football player, he led his Portsmouth High School team in tackles three years in a row and was a 2007 all-state honorable-mention selection.

But there was another side to Wes, says his mother, Jo Anna Krohn.

Field Notes: Decide whether to pursue before making a stop

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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:

From the Attorney General

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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.

From the Attorney General

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:10:00 GMT

My job as Ohio’s Attorney General is to support and assist local law enforcement professionals in their efforts to protect Ohio’s families. An important part of meeting that responsibility is making sure peace officers around the state are well-trained for the work we ask them to do.

From the Attorney General

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:52:37 GMT

As the parent of eight and grandparent of 17, I know how precious the gift of children is — their smiles, their laughter, their curiosity, their innocence. Yet, tragically, too many of Ohio’s more than 2.7 million children aren’t experiencing the safe, loving childhoods they deserve. An alarming number face abuse, neglect, and exploitation by strangers, acquaintances, and even family members.

From the Attorney General

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:18:37 GMT

As a prosecuting attorney, I learned early in my career that people facing mental health problems were cycling through our criminal justice system time and again, receiving jail or prison time rather than the treatment they needed. My colleague Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton saw the same thing years ago as a trial judge.

From the Attorney General

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:55:27 GMT

A new study commissioned by my office puts solid numbers to a phenomenon that law enforcement officers and prosecutors have long known: A small group of repeat offenders is responsible for a large percentage of violent crime in our state.

Funding helps extradite sex offenders

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Funds are available through the Attorney General’s Office to help sheriffs extradite unregistered sex offenders who have fled the state.

The program, funded by a U.S. Department of Justice grant, is called SORN NET, short for Sex Offender Registration Network Nationwide Extradition Team. It covers up to $2,000 in expenses per trip — including transportation, lodging, meals, and other allowable costs — when local authorities travel out of state to retrieve a sex offender who has failed to register.

Honoring the fallen

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:18:33 GMT

Law enforcement from across the state will gather at 11 a.m. May 3 to honor six of their peers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2011 and six historical nominees. The Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony — marking its 25th anniversary — will take place at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London.

How to get the fastest results possible for your DNA case

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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

Hundreds gather to pay tribute to Ohio’s fallen peace officers

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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:

In the Courts

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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.

In the Courts

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:04:00 GMT

In J.D.B. v. North Carolina, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that a child’s age is relevant to the Miranda custody analysis.

Police removed 13-year-old J.D.B. from his classroom and questioned him about items stolen in two home invasions. Without administering Miranda warnings, and with the door closed, the investigator questioned him for 30 to 45 minutes.

In the Courts

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement officers have an ethical and legal duty to impartially disclose all evidence in a case. Failing to do so compromises the integrity of the criminal justice system and exposes officers and their agencies to civil liability.

In the Courts

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:13:49 GMT

In its first review of GPS tracking, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in January in United States v. Jones that law enforcement must have a search warrant before attaching a GPS tracking device to a subject’s vehicle.

In the Courts

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:43:45 GMT

The federal courts recently narrowed a Fourth Amendment search warrant exception frequently used by law enforcement officers.

Key contacts with the Ohio Attorney General's Office

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Kids and officers hit it off

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:35:48 GMT

Tony Perrone is happy to see an increased police presence where he works on the south side of Youngstown. But not for the reasons you might think.

Law Enforcement Conference features impressive lineup

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:50:38 GMT

An excellent array of speakers and workshops is planned for the Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference, set for Oct. 25–26 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

Law Enforcement Conference set for October

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Legislative Initiatives

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:59:26 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office works with the Ohio General Assembly to advocate legislation aimed at supporting local law enforcement. For more information on these efforts, contact the Attorney General’s Help Center at 800-282-0515.

Legislative initiatives would assist law enforcement

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:22:57 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is working with the Ohio legislature to push for passage of three bills aimed at supporting local law enforcement.

New fronts established in battle against opiates

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:07:00 GMT

As statewide efforts to battle the prescription drug abuse epidemic begin to show results, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and its partners are seeing a rise in the prevalence of heroin, prompting a broader focus to fight opiates in general.

New law helps solve cold cases

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:28:56 GMT

For Sgt. Michael Lang of the Englewood Police Department, the day he was able to tell a 25-year-old woman that a man suspected of raping her more than 10 years earlier had been arrested stands out as one of his best on the job.

News & Notes

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Former sheriff heading organized crime commission, Peace Officers' Memorial and more.

News & Notes

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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.

News & Notes

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:02:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office and law enforcement agencies throughout Ohio will take part in a national initiative to collect and properly dispose of prescription medications.

News & Notes

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:59:46 GMT

A compilation of news from the Attorney General's Office.

News & Notes

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:05:01 GMT

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) can provide increased visibility to help local law enforcement agencies resolve unsolved homicides.

Through the Ohio Attorney General’s website at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/OhioUnsolvedHomicides,
local law enforcement can share details and photos related to unsolved homicide cases and solicit tips from the public.

News Briefs

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:31:03 GMT

A compilation of news from the Attorney General's Office.

Observance sheds light on domestic violence

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:30 GMT

By Alissa Romstadt

Victim advocates are lighting the night sky this October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is partnering with Ohio programs and agencies in the Purple Light Nights campaign and other activities to raise awareness about domestic violence issues.

Online or on the road, OPOTA serves local law enforcement

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:09:00 GMT

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) is reaching out to serve local law enforcement by making trainings even more convenient for time-strapped and budget-conscious agencies across Ohio.

OPOTA expands regional and online offerings

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Panel addresses mental health, criminal justice issues

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:36:47 GMT

The leaders of an Ohio task force working to reduce the “revolving door effect” many people with mental illness encounter with the criminal justice system agree on a lot of things. But probably their most fundamental common ground is a desire to get things accomplished.

Q&A with crime victims’ chief advocate

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:47:41 GMT

We provide certain core services — grants, victim compensation, and education and training programs — and we want to make sure those programs aren’t working in silos. For example, our compensation unit noticed an increased number of claims for a particular type of crime.

Q&A with Deputy AG for Law Enforcement

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:17:27 GMT

Steve Schumaker oversees the law enforcement functions of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Here, he shares thoughts on his job, his background, and the office.

Q&A with Ohio BCI superintendent

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:27:45 GMT

Tom Stickrath is a proven leader in Ohio’s criminal justice field. At BCI, he’s committed to making an already well-respected organization the best of its kind. Period.

Resources are a click away

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:03:00 GMT

Dozens of law enforcement resources are available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website. Here is a recap of the most popular available at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/LawEnforcementServices:

Resources available for DNA collection

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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:

RX Update

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:51:36 GMT

Representatives of eight states took part in the Ohio Attorney General’s Interstate Prescription Drug Abuse Summit this past fall to share strategies for fighting the epidemic and foster collaboration.

Sound advice vital for youth

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:01:00 GMT

By Kathleen Nichols

With a new school year under way, criminal justice professionals are sure to receive calls from parents and school officials seeking assistance with technology misuse incidents such as cyberbullying and sexting. In responding, it is important to offer substantive advice and assistance, even though many such cases never escalate to a criminal level.

Statistically Speaking

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Sheriffs are responsible for issuing, renewing, denying, suspending, and revoking Ohioans’ concealed carry licenses. They report these statistics quarterly to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The office recently issued the 2010 annual report related to the state’s concealed handgun law. Here are some highlights:

Ohio sheriffs issued 60,881 regular concealed carry permits in 2010, including 47,337 new licenses and 13,544 renewal licenses.

TDIM puts focus on victim advocacy

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:45:19 GMT

More than 1,000 people attended the Ohio Attorney General’s recent Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance. The 21st annual event drew victims, advocates, social service workers, criminal justice professionals, and others for dozens of workshops, several speakers, and a foster care symposium.

Timeline chronicles case of elusive fugitive Bobby Thompson

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:54:02 GMT

Bobby Thompson loved the game. Conning unsuspecting donors who thought their $5, $10, and $20 donations were benefiting American heroes. Rubbing shoulders with famous people. Watching money roll in from 41 states where his U.S. Navy Veterans Association “charity” was registered.

Training focuses on the BASICS

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Domestic violence shelter manager Lorie Delaney knows how important it is for victim advocates to be properly trained. A domestic violence survivor, she now devotes her life to helping women recover at the Project Woman shelter in Springfield.

Delaney attended the ADVANCE Academy’s Basic Advocacy Skills in Crime Victim Services (BASICS) training presented by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in September. Since then, she has recommended to her executive director that all of her colleagues participate in the five-day program.

Two Days in May marks 20th year

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

For the past 20 years, Ohio victim advocates have gathered for two days each May to share their skills, passions, and stories of hope and resiliency.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance (TDIM) has become one of the largest and most comprehensive victim advocacy conferences in the nation.

From the Attorney General

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There’s no standing still in law enforcement, especially if you’re going to outpace criminals and do right by those you’ve vowed to protect. Likewise, the Attorney General’s Office isn’t standing still in its efforts to identify and implement creative ways to assist the criminal justice community.

Introducing OPOTA’s Mobile Academy

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy is rolling out a new Mobile Academy that will make firearms, driving, and subject control courses available free throughout the state.

Q&A: Peace officer training chief highlights priorities

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

After 25 years with the FBI and stints with the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General Corps and Federal Air Marshal Service, Bob Fiatal is focusing on providing Ohio officers with the best available training — free and close to home. He serves as executive director of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and Commission.

Below the surface: BCI’s new Forensic Dive Team takes services to a new level

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers tell an impressive story about the Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s new Forensic Dive Team.

Attorney General steps up focus on unsolved homicides

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine has introduced a plan to focus more attention on Ohio’s unsolved homicides. The effort involves listing every cold case homicide in the state on the Attorney General’s website and providing law enforcement with assistance from several BCI units.

Initiatives strengthen sex offender monitoring

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine has announced is announcing three new initiatives to better monitor Ohio’s about 19,000 convicted sex offenders.

AG’s investigators can assist with nursing home drug diversion cases

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is available to help local law enforcement investigate drug diversion in Ohio’s long-term care facilities.

OPOTA courses in the works on active shootings

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Active shooters can strike anytime, anywhere. To help law enforcement and educators prepare for the possibility of such incidents, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) plans to launch two new courses in early 2013. Both are free.

New report, collaborative address human trafficking

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Sex trafficking is occurring in more out-of-the-way locations than ever before, making it more difficult for law enforcement to detect, according to a new report from the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission.

Changes arm first responders with details at drilling sites

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Recent changes to Ohio law enhance public safety in light of a renewed interest in oil and gas drilling and heightened concerns about hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in the state.

Fugitive Safe Surrender offers fresh start

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Kyle Presjak traveled some 1,400 miles for a fresh start. Presjak, 21, was among 135 people who turned themselves in during Fugitive Safe Surrender events in Trumbull and Columbiana counties in July. He traveled from Texas to resolve a warrant for failing to appear in court on speeding and driving without a license charges.

Measures aimed at stemming growth of Internet cafés

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than 800 Internet cafés have filed mandatory paperwork in response to the Ohio Attorney General’s efforts to get a handle on the number of such establishments in the state and halt their growth, at least until regulations can be put in place.

News and notes

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A compilation of updates from the Attorney General's office

BCI cuts DNA turnaround times 84 percent

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation has reduced turnaround times for DNA evidence from an average of 125 days to 20 days over the past two years.

New weapons take aim at synthetic drugs

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The stories of synthetic drug highs gone bad are tragic.

An Ohio man, high on “bath salts,” was shot by police while holding his girlfriend at knifepoint. After using “spice,” a Texas man assaulted his housemates and beat, strangled, and bit off pieces of a pet dog’s flesh. A Louisiana man slit his throat in front of his family after snorting “bath salts.”

From the Attorney General

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Nothing is more important than protecting our kids from harm. Unfortunately, the horrific school shooting in Connecticut and the tragedy in our own state last year in Chardon remind us how difficult that task can be.

AG shares RECLAIM Ohio’s success

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine recently testified before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee about RECLAIM Ohio, a successful juvenile justice reform initiative launched in the 1990s.

Q&A: Health Care Fraud Section chief emphasizes collaboration

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Keesha Mitchell’s staff has expanded by 12 in the past two years to better assist law enforcement and prosecutors statewide.

eOPOTA addresses non-stranger sexual assault

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Because about two-thirds of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim, sexual assault cases can be difficult from the start.

Awards recognize outstanding accomplishments

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A dozen individuals and groups received Ohio Distinguished Law Enforcement Awards at the Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference in October. Among them: first-responders to the Chardon school shooting, a sheriff’s staff that ensured public safety after the release of dozens of exotic animals near Zanesville, and the first officer on the scene of a shooting that left eight dead in Copley.

Colleagues recognize sheriff’s 48 years at the helm

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Former Pickaway County Sheriff Dwight E. Radcliff is in a class all his own.

News and Notes

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A compilation of updates from the Attorney General's Office.

News & Notes

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A compilation of briefs from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office

In the Courts

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Bailey v. United States clarifies that law enforcement officers’ ability to detain a home’s recent occupant during a search depends largely on the distance the occupant is from the residence.

OPOTA course targets white collar crime

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

While many of us hope for good news from the IRS this time of year, a Louisiana tax preparer went on trial for filing false tax refund claims using the names and Social Security numbers of nursing home residents.

Steps can help limit civil liability

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Because of the inherent danger and quick decisions law enforcement officers face every day, civil liability is a real concern for officers and their agencies.

Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony approaches

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement officers from across Ohio will gather at 11 a.m. May 2 to honor three of their peers who lost their lives in 2012. The 26th annual Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony will take place at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London.

BCI labs earn international accreditation

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s three laboratories have earned ASCLD/LAB-International accreditation from the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board.

Training boosts agencies’ ability to fight crimes involving kids

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Offering free training courses that increase law enforcement agencies’ capacity to protect kids is a major priority of the Crimes Against Children Initiative. To register for courses highlighted below, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/OPOTA.

Q&A: Crimes Against Children Initiative director draws on experience, strong team

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine launched the Crimes Against Children Initiative in 2011, assembling investigators, prosecutors, victim advocates, and law enforcement trainers to better protect Ohio’s children. The team focuses on identifying, arresting, and convicting people who prey on children through sexual and other forms of abuse, child pornography, solicitation of minors, and similar crimes.

TDIM Conference explores ways to assist vulnerable Ohioans

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Reaching vulnerable populations with victim services can require looking at situations from a different angle. Already adept at recognizing victims’ needs and challenges, those who work in the advocacy and law enforcement fields are well-positioned to help.

Course draws educators, law enforcement into conversations, next steps

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Among the 250 people attending a recent Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy course on school shootings were about 150 teachers, administrators, cooks, bus drivers, and custodians from Amanda Clearcreek Local Schools. There, too, were six members of the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, which provides law enforcement services to the district.

Attorney General’s BCI expands palm print database

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Attorney General’s Office has expanded Ohio’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to include nearly 600,000 palm prints, and it’s preparing to connect it with the FBI’s new national database that’s 10 times that size — and growing.

From the Attorney General

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It is crucial that Ohio sexual assault victims have access to adequate victim services.

Thankfully, victim services have changed dramatically since I was a county prosecutor in the 1970s, when crime victims were lucky if their “services” included an ambulance or cruiser. Today, my office provides resources for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, identity theft, patient abuse and neglect, and many other crimes. We also administer grants that fund nearly 300 victim service programs across Ohio.

From the Attorney General

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Police Sgt. Mike Lang chased more than 100 leads while investigating the 2001 rape of a 14-year-old girl by a man who climbed through her bedroom window.

Initiative targets gun violence

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Strategies that have produced drastic reductions in gun-related crime in cities around the country form the foundation for Attorney General Mike DeWine’s new Safe Neighborhoods Initiative.
In Boston, youth homicides fell by two-thirds and all homicides by half. In Cincinnati, homicides involving gangs dropped 41 percent and other violent firearms incidents fell 22 percent. In Chicago, a program aimed at parolees returning to certain neighborhoods cut homicides by almost 40 percent.

Three ways the AG can assist with unsolved homicides

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Karen Beaudin knows the sorrow of losing a loved one to homicide and the anguish of seeing the crime go unsolved. Her 13-year-old sister was raped and murdered in 1971.

Q&A: OOCIC offers team approach to fight organized crime

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

For the past 27 years, the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) has provided a means for local, state, and federal law enforcement and prosecutors to bring down organized criminal enterprises operating across multiple jurisdictions. Several task forces exist at any given time, with new groups forming and others disbanding as needs dictate. About 15 staff members — led by Executive Director Rocky Nelson — support the task forces’ efforts, and their thoughts on OOCIC’s work are compiled here.

Law enforcement encouraged to attend school safety conference

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The fee for law enforcement and other emergency responders to attend a School Safety/Crisis Management Conference in Columbus Aug. 19 has been reduced to $50 per person. The conference will address emergency management and planning along with recommended steps to take before, during, and after an emergency.

Law Enforcement Conference focuses on officer safety, wellness

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Putting others first is a reality of police work. Yet research and real life clearly show that the stress of the job can take a toll on those who do it, prompting a decision to focus the Ohio Attorney General’s 2013 Law Enforcement Conference on officer safety and wellness.

Identity theft victims turn to law enforcement, new program

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio law enforcement officers can refer identity theft victims to two types of assistance available from the Attorney General’s Office.

Regulations expected to shutter Ohio Internet cafés

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With the help and support of law enforcement across the state, Ohio has enacted substantial changes affecting Internet cafés.

News & Notes

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Here's a compilation of updates from the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

News & Notes

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Safe Neighborhoods call-in sends a message

The voices were varied — those of an ER doctor, a minister, an ex-con, the police chief, the prosecutor — but the message for Akron’s most violent offenders centered on a common theme: End the gun violence or face the consequences, including a major crackdown on your whole group.

In the Courts

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Supreme Court issued a decision Sept. 3 in State Ex. Rel. Miller v. Ohio State Highway Patrol, et. al., which deals with a public records request.

Special Prosecutions team prepared to assist

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Attorney General’s special prosecutors work on a wide range of cases in all corners of Ohio, and thanks to an impressive conviction rate, their proponents are just as widespread. In fact, demand for the office’s help with prosecutions prompted Attorney General Mike DeWine to increase staff in this area and to designate Special Prosecutions as its own section.

Ohio rolls out meth container program

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio is now among only about 20 percent of states across the country to implement a container program for disposing of methamphetamine lab waste, an approach recommended by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) launched the program in May.

BCI, OPOTA earn top marks in accreditation process

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) has reaccredited the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy under its new Gold Standard Assessment program. OPOTA was the first law enforcement training facility in the United States to receive the Gold Standard accreditation.

Q&A: BCI Lab Director Emphasizes Quality, Efficiency

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Karen Kwek had been a member of the lab team at the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation for 14 years when she was named BCI’s laboratory director in late spring. She oversees 150 staff members and an ultramodern lab that law enforcement and prosecutors around the state rely on for fast, accurate evidence analysis.

Funds designated for statewide law enforcement training

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio law enforcement officers will receive four hours of professional training in 2014, one hour related to crimes against families and three on general law enforcement topics.

From the Attorney General

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Technology will always be one of crime-fighters’ best weapons. It helps us outsmart the most devious criminals, join forces with others in law enforcement, speed assistance to victims, and prevent future crime.

Rape kit testing yields more than 500 hits

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The first year of a major push to analyze Ohio’s untested sexual assault kits has concluded, and the results exceed even the most hopeful predictions.

BCI leverages innovation in DNA analysis

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly three decades after DNA analysis first became a tool in criminal investigations, demand for the testing continues to rise. In Ohio, BCI is experiencing its heaviest DNA caseload ever.

News & Notes

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Fraudster ‘Bobby Thompson’ sentenced to 28 years

John Donald Cody, known for years under the stolen identity of Bobby Thompson, was sentenced in December to 28 years in prison on 23 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and complicity to money laundering and theft. The judge also fined Cody more than $6 million and ordered him to spend every Veterans Day in solitary confinement.

Dozens recognized for outstanding work in protecting Ohioans

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The experiences of Steven Davis, Brad Ditullio, and Gregory Ivory are stark reminders of the risks law enforcement officers take every time they work a shift. The three officers were among dozens of individuals recognized with 2013 Distinguished Law Enforcement Awards at the Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference in October.

Looking for CPT options? OPOTA delivers

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Many Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy courses allow law enforcement officers to meet their continuing professional training requirement for 2014. Of the four CPT hours required of Ohio peace officers and troopers this year, three can focus on general law enforcement topics and one must be related to crimes against families. Here is a look at some CPT training options available through OPOTA. For details, visit OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/OPOTA.

Some quick reminders for courts

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

1. Hopper Act requires reporting of mental health information

Ohio’s new Deputy Suzanne Hopper Act requires that courts report certain mental health information to law enforcement for inclusion in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

Projects to enhance OHLEG’s usability, security

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine is implementing several recommendations to enhance the security and usability of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (OHLEG), already considered one of best statewide law enforcement information systems in the nation.

Drug-related resources

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General’s Office

Several resources and links are available at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/DrugAbuse.
Prosecution assistance (Matt Donahue): 614-629-8340
BCI Tip Line: 855-BCI-OHIO (855-224-6446)
Education and outreach (Jennifer Biddinger): 614-644-5808
Research (Jonathan Fulkerson): 614-466-4320
Grant advice (Jonathan Vega): 614-466-6963
Victim assistance (Tannisha Bell): 614-466-8245
Legislative information (Erica Wilson): 614-728-2279
Law enforcement training (Mary Davis): 740-845-2696
Prescription drug drop boxes (Linda Ubokudom): 614-728-6069

Q&A: Insights from outreach: Coordinator is a force multiplier for grassroots efforts

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Biddinger joined the Attorney General’s Office in late 2011 to support Ohioans determined to fight drugs in their communities. Demand for the assistance continues to grow, leading to plans to expand outreach capabilities.

Lives forever changed

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Bev Flowers: Her recovery was worth fighting for

“Recovery is always possible.” Those are the words of Bev Flowers, who knows the road back from opiate addiction.

OPOTA offers new heroin course

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy will offer law enforcement a new course — The Heroin Epidemic: Recognition and Investigation — in February and March.

Forums point to need for holistic solution

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio’s opiate problem has many dimensions, and solving it will require many components: law enforcement, courts, treatment options, education, community services, support networks, and more.

Attorney General’s new Heroin Unit assists local communities

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine’s new Heroin Unit provides Ohio communities with law enforcement, legal, and outreach assistance to combat the state’s escalating opiate problem.

From the Attorney General

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

I have been working with many Ohio families devastated by our state’s heroin epidemic, and if I could somehow change the reason for our encounters, I would.

Spread of heroin demands Ohio’s attention

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The opiate crisis has evolved, snaring our state in a deadly progression from prescription pills to heroin. It’s a familiar pattern with gruesome consequences. And it’s playing out in many states, including Ohio.

News and Notes

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Outreach focuses on services, funding for crime victims

The Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services Section is reaching out to audiences around the state to draw attention to its many services as well as assistance available through the Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Fund.

In the Courts

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Homicide investigators arrive at a suspect’s home and identify a murder scene. Also present when they arrive are officers guarding both the scene and the suspect. Can the home, including cupboards, drawers, and closets that are all inaccessible to the suspect, be searched? The answer is no, even though many believe that the urgency of the situation gives rise to a “homicide exception” to the warrant requirement.

Drug forums point to need for coordination

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

One of the most important takeaways from a series of 15 community forums Attorney General Mike DeWine is conducting on Ohio’s heroin epidemic is the need to bring all players to the table.

May ceremony will honor fallen officers

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

One law enforcement officer who died in 2013 and six who lost their lives in the line of duty in years past will be honored at this year’s Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony. The 27th annual ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. May 1 at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London.

Want to put scammers in their place? The Economic Crimes Unit is here to help

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

More than 100 people have faced felony charges for scamming Ohioans since the Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Unit formed three years ago, and 64 have been convicted so far. These crimes target honest, trusting people — many of them elderly — and often take more time than local law enforcement agencies can invest without assistance.

OPOTA assists Ohio agencies with 2014 CPT requirement

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new link on the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy webpage provides information on courses that meet the 2014 Continuing Professional Training (CPT) requirement related to crimes against families.

Q&A: OPOTA director prioritizes training that’s timely and responds to local needs

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

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.

From the Attorney General

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

I was raised in a family that placed extraordinary emphasis on customer service. My grandparents ran a small seed business in Yellow Springs, and my parents built the operation into a leading exporter of seed grains and grasses. That doesn’t happen without caring deeply about your customers’ satisfaction, and I’ll be forever grateful to my parents and grandparents for passing that value on to me.

Conference stresses crime victims’ access to justice

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The Attorney General’s Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance offers Ohio’s victim advocates and others in the criminal justice community a variety of unique and compelling professional development opportunities. Registration is now open for the conference, scheduled for May 12–13 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

BCI delivers crucial intel

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

In what Prosecutor Andrew Wilson calls “the most logistically complex case in the history of Clark County,” a bookkeeper embezzled more than $1.7 million from a Springfield manufacturing company over a span of 10 years, writing more than 1,000 corporation checks to herself, her creditors, and even her grown children’s creditors. She was sentenced in March to eight years in prison and ordered to make full restitution.

News & Notes

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A recap of TDIM 2014

A mother who channeled her grief into helping other crime victims was among those honored at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2014 Two Days in May Conference, which drew nearly 1,000 victim advocates for presentations, workshops, and networking. Next year’s conference is May 4–5, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

Q&A: School Safety Task Force chair Pam Vest Boratyn offers common-sense strategies for safety in schools

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

On the Attorney General’s role in school safety

I want to stress that our children are generally very safe at school. But we need to take seriously our role not only in reacting to school crises when they do occur, but in prevention and recovery. The Attorney General has a statutory role under Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.536 to collect school safety and floor plans from all public, private, charter, and vocational schools as well as preschools with kindergartens — more than 4,300 schools statewide — and make them available to law enforcement in an emergency. Schools upload these plans through their Ohio Department of Education Web portal to the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway. The office urges law enforcement, fire departments, school officials, and other partners to work together to develop plans unique to each school and community.

BCI lab response leads to quick arrest in child’s rape

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Less than 54 hours after a 13-year-old girl was raped while waiting for her school bus in April, the BCI lab in London — which offered to expedite testing in the case — notified Columbus police of a CODIS hit linking evidence from the crime to a known offender. That same day, SWAT officers arrested the suspect at his home within a mile of the bus stop. He is charged with three counts of rape and one count of kidnapping.

Save the date for Oct. 28–29 Law Enforcement Conference

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s 2014 Law Enforcement Conference features an emphasis on crimes against older adults, including a special track of workshops and a general-session presentation. Set for Oct. 28–29 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus, the conference also offers top-notch speakers, the Distinguished Law Enforcement Awards Luncheon, and 30 workshops.

Facial recognition helps law enforcement gain ground

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

OHLEG’s facial recognition system helped Akron police detectives Jim Pasheilich and Aron Hanlon identify a suspect within hours of a January murder and robbery. The next day, they had the man in custody and secured information on two other suspects.

From the Attorney General

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The new Ohio Attorney General’s Center for the Future of Forensic Science, which we are creating in conjunction with the nearly complete Bureau of Criminal Investigation facility at Bowling Green State University, will have a direct and timely impact on Ohio law enforcement agencies, prosecutors’ offices, and citizens.

Regional office of BCI nearing completion at BGSU

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio’s criminal justice community and the field of forensic science both stand to gain with the opening of the Attorney General’s new Bureau of Criminal Investigation facility in Northwest Ohio later this year.

Initiative ramps up focus on elder abuse

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office is expanding its work with law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim advocates under a new Elder Justice Initiative that will increase the investigation and prosecution of elder abuse cases and improve victims’ access to services.

3D scanners put viewers at the scene

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

BCI has deployed five 3D laser scanners around the state to help investigators better document complex crime scenes. Each scanner sits on a tripod and rotates 360 degrees, taking millions of precise laser measurements and hundreds of digital photos. The result is a video that can carry viewers — including investigators, prosecutors, and jurors — through a crime scene.

Join us to open the new BCI facility at Bowling Green

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The new Bureau of Criminal Investigation facility in Northwest Ohio will open Nov. 10 on the Bowling Green State University campus.

Funding benefits Ohio’s rape crisis programs

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Rape crisis programs are better positioned to help victims as a result of increased funding made available through the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Services Expansion Program and Ohio’s new Rape Crisis Trust Fund.

‘When you see the results, you know it makes sense to go ahead and test the kits’

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A Q&A with Ilse Knecht of the National Center for Victims of Crime

Ilse Knecht has been working to advance the DNA analysis of untested sexual assault kits for nearly 15 years. She is deputy director of public policy for the National Center for Victims of Crime and director of its DNA Resource Center. We spoke with her about victims’ needs and other issues related to the testing of old kits.

From the Attorney General

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The results we’re seeing with the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative — in the laboratory, in investigations, and in courtrooms — are among the most promising I’ve witnessed in my career.

Investigators snare serial rapists, murderers

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Who would argue when Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutor Rick Bell calls these offenders the “worst of the worst”?

Sexual assault kit testing produces 36 percent CODIS hit rate

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A hit rate of 36 percent on evidence from rape kits stored for years across the state translates into “miracles almost every day,” says Attorney General Mike DeWine.

Strong teams convict predators, champion survivors

Mon, 27 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Working with others in your community to respond to sexual assault is the surest way to convict offenders and support victims. The Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services staff and Interpersonal Violence Response Training Team help local responders put such networks in place and provide expertise and resources to sustain them.

Legislation Reinforces Mike DeWine’s Call to Test Sexual Assault Kits

Wed, 06 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has been encouraging local law enforcement in the state to send in Sexual Assault Kits for DNA testing by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Attorney General Announces Naloxone Agreement

Wed, 06 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine announced an agreement with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc. – a manufacturer of the drug Naloxone – to provide rebates to police departments and other non-governmental agencies that distribute the drug in Ohio.

From the Attorney General – CJU Spring 2015

Wed, 06 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement officers have often told me that they see many of the same people commit violent crimes time and time again.

Review of Law Enforcement Training Focus of Attorney General’s Panel

Wed, 06 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

After a series of law enforcement involved shootings and deaths in Ohio and elsewhere in the nation, Attorney General Mike DeWine established a working group to look at the training for Ohio peace officers.

Attorney General Releases 2014 Human Trafficking Report

Wed, 06 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

According to the annual Ohio Attorney General’s Office Human Trafficking Report released earlier this year, law enforcement officers are conducting more human trafficking investigations, and identifying more potential traffickers and trafficking victims, in Ohio than have ever been reported before.

Access to services for crime victims

Wed, 06 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office works with local law enforcement agencies to put crime victims and their families on a path toward rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of violent crime.

Q & A: Tannisha Bell, Section Chief, Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services Section

Wed, 06 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The section provides compensation to help crime victims and their families cover eligible costs, as well as programming, funding, and training for victims and victim service providers.

Television Show Explores Ohio Murder Case

Wed, 06 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The 2012 murder of Jessica Sacco is both tragic and gruesome. It was the topic this past February of an episode of “Web of Lies” on Investigation Discovery Channel.

Child Abduction Response Teams Adapting to New Approach

Wed, 06 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

When a child is likely in danger, can’t be located, or is seen being abducted, and immediate action is needed, time is precious.

Ohio School Students Experience Firsthand the Science of BCI

Wed, 06 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Students at Perrin Woods Elementary in Springfield got a firsthand look at some of the science behind the efforts of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) when the BCI Science School visited last December.

Mental-health professionals ride along with police

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

As a dad, Officer Michael Coleman of the Hamilton Police Department cares deeply about the training that law enforcement receives in regard to dealing with disturbance calls -- especially those involving a person in the midst of an apparent mental-health crisis.

Agencies, CIT officers find answers together in Delaware

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

When the same seven citizens were repeatedly having mental-health crises requiring law enforcement intervention in 2011, the officers at the Delaware Police Department knew something needed to be done to stop the cycle.

BCI fellow to share DNA recovery findings

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A touch can say so much, and no one knows that better than the scientist who spent the past year pulling DNA from weapons at the BCI lab in Richfield.

Q&A: Matthew J. Donahue, Section Chief, Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Section

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

These attorneys are often asked to act as lead prosecutors in cases in which there is a conflict of interest, or to serve as assistant prosecutors where specialized knowledge is needed.

From the Attorney General -- CJU Summer 2015

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

After the tragic, fatal police shootings in Ohio and across the nation last year, I convened an advisory group to take an in-depth look at the state’s system for peace officer training.

Agencies use grants to stop revolving door of jail

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Task Force on Criminal Justice and Mental Illness reported last month on the status of programs that received about $400,000 in grants awarded by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine in an effort to provide ongoing support for the mentally ill and their families.

Gallia, Jackson, Meigs counties unite to find solutions

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

In the tri-county area of Gallia, Jackson and Meigs, the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) has had to be creative to meet the needs of the community.

Salute to the fallen: Officers gather to honor those who sacrificed all

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Retired officer Rob Winebrenner has been to many police memorials through the years, but he will never think of them the same way again, he said, after attending the 2015 Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony, which honored his son.

‘Our prayer is for zero’ -- Training program aims to lower officer line-of-duty deaths

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

On the eve of the Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony, deputies, officers and troopers gathered on May 6 at the Statehouse for an event to recognize a training initiative to reduce law enforcement line-of-duty deaths nationwide to less than 100.

2 Days in May Conference Recap

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A police lieutenant who has made it her mission to train other officers about the dynamics of domestic violence was among those honored at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2015 Two Days in May Conference, which drew more than 1,000 victim advocates for presentations, workshops and networking at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

Toiletry kits donated to domestic violence shelters

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A bottle of shampoo, some lotion, a toothbrush and a bar of soap are basic items, but to a victim of domestic violence seeking refuge in a shelter, such items can bring a measure of comfort.

Keeping watch

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Information Technology Services workers from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office handed out new computers, monitors and scanners to each of the state’s 88 sheriff’s offices to be used for loading information about sex offenders into the OffenderWatch system.

E-cigarettes being made to look like kid stuff

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is warning parents about the risks of e-cigarette use among children and young adults.

Hall of Famer a hit with kids

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and officers from the Dayton Police Department participated in a July 12 clinic for children involved in the Badges for Baseball program.

Naloxone available without a prescription

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The overdose-reversal drug naloxone can now be purchased without a prescription.

A look back … 50 years of law enforcement training

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Members of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission were celebrated for their work in shaping training and compliance standards and former executive directors were honored during the 2015 Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference.

Pet-encounter training to be offered

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Included in the budget bill signed by Gov. John Kasich on June 30 is a requirement that all Ohio peace officers receive training on companion-animal encounters and behavior.

Legal team wins writing award

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The National Association of Attorneys General awarded a “Best Brief Award” to a team from the Appeals Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for their work on Ohio v. Clark.

In the Courts

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio v. Clark, U.S. Supreme Court, 135 S.Ct. 2173, June 18, 2015

Police teach teen drivers advanced skills

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A police sergeant who has seen his share of fatal car accidents involving young drivers believes he and fellow officers are saving lives by instructing students in the free Take Control Teen Driving Program in Medina County.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The safety of children has always been my number one priority.

Sexual assault cases granted more time

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

As the Bureau of Criminal Investigation continues to make its way through untested rape kits as part of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Sexual Assault Kit Testing Initiative, Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 6 to extend the statute of limitations for prosecution of sexual assault cases.

Teamwork key in fighting campus sexual assaults

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

In an effort to help colleges and universities better respond to sexual assaults, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office recently dedicated $3 million in grants to improve advocacy programs, and conducted a series of investigation training sessions.

Consumer Protection works with law enforcement to end scams

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section is a valuable law enforcement resource in the fight against multi-county scams.

Q&A: Jonathan D. Blanton, Section Chief, Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The Consumer Protection Section helps resolve consumer issues, keeps track of consumer complaints and assists law enforcement on consumer-related investigations.

Project LINK finds connections between remains, missing persons

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Project LINK (Linking Individuals Not Known) — in which DNA samples from family members of missing people are compared to DNA samples from human remains in an attempt to find a match — is part sleuthing and part science.

Everyone pulls together when a child goes missing

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

When an Amber Alert is issued, the vast resources of law enforcement and community unite with a passion to save a missing child.

Conferences build support for communities battling heroin

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A former heroin addict who spoke at the “Taking Back Our Communities” conference and resource fair in Mason, Ohio, said his recovery was a “journey of a million tiny steps.”

Q&A: The Heroin Unit

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Heroin Unit, developed in 2013 to help law enforcement pursue high-level traffickers and to work with communities affected by the opiate epidemic, combines the talents of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), the Special Prosecutions Section and drug-abuse outreach specialists.

‘60 Minutes’ puts national spotlight on heroin scourge

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Efforts by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to fight the state’s heroin epidemic drew the attention of 60 Minutes, which put together a “Heroin in the Heartland” segment focusing on drug use in the suburbs of Columbus.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

When I started my career as a Greene County assistant prosecuting attorney, heroin was a drug found in the back alleys of big cities.

Blue Courage designed to revitalize officers, improve culture

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Blue Courage, a nationally recognized program containing workshops that cover topics such as police culture, resilience, and positive psychology, has been added to the basic and advanced training required of Ohio’s law enforcement officers.

OPOTA puts required training in easy reach

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Peace officers and troopers are required to complete 11 hours of Continuing Professional Training (CPT) this year, up from four hours last year, and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the requirements in October during the opening session of the Law Enforcement Conference.

DeWine calls for uniform pre-certification standards for academy applicants

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

In an effort to standardize the training of Ohio’s peace officers, Attorney General Mike DeWine asked the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) to adopt a set of pre-certification standards for academies.

Attorney General’s initiative to expand services for crime victims

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Victims of domestic violence in Logan County have had to travel at least 30 miles to seek emergency shelter, but a $416,676 grant from the Ohio Attorney General’s Expanding Services and Empowering Victims Initiative is changing that.

In the Courts

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

United States v. Bah, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6^th Circuit, July 24, 2015

CART recruiting additional coordinators

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Child Abduction Response Team (CART) program is seeking coordinators.

Peace officers receive awards at annual conference

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A police officer who saved a woman from a knife-wielding attacker, six others who were stalked by an angry gunman, and a crew who rescued a man from a burning van were among the more than three dozen individuals and groups honored in October at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2015 Law Enforcement Conference.

Attorney General provides resources to students with loan concerns

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

To help prospective, current and former college students understand and manage student loans, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office has developed a comprehensive online student loan center.

Security updated to protect sensitive email

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has upgraded its email security to further protect sensitive data.

ID number required for ‘drones’

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A federal law requiring “drones” — small, unmanned aircraft — to register with the Federal Aviation Administration took effect in December.

Students look for ‘evidence’

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A dead “body” on the couch, a gun on the floor and a suspicious note were among the items 35 Bowling Green State University students found recently in a house staged as a crime scene.

Scientists find potential for interaction among blood-detection chemicals

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The first research paper produced at the Ohio Attorney General’s Center for the Future of Forensic Science at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) has been accepted for publication in Forensic Science International.

Fitness test to be required before basic training

Wed, 11 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

As of January 2017, applicants to Ohio peace officer basic training academies will have to pass a pre-entrance physical fitness test.

Q&A: Sylvia Pla-Raith, director of the Ohio Attorney General’s Elder Justice Initiative

Wed, 11 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Elder Justice Initiative works with law enforcement, prosecutors, adult protective services and communities to identify, investigate and prosecute elder abuse cases; improve services for victims; and raise awareness about abuse.

Ideas flow at emergency meeting on opiates

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

At least 1,000 public safety officials gathered Jan. 21 for the Ohio Attorney General’s “Ideas That Work: Fighting the Drug Epidemic in Ohio” emergency meeting at the Mount Hermon Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

When I was starting out as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Greene County in the early 1970s, there were few, if any, services specifically for crime victims.

A legacy of advocacy: 25 years of helping crime victims

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Each year for the past 25 years, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office has been hosting a spring gathering of victims’ advocates so they can share ideas, learn about new issues and be inspired by others in the field.

Two Days in May marks milestone

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

As the victims’ rights movement has become more robust in Ohio, the Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance has grown exponentially.

A BCI Retrospective: 1921-2016

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will mark its 95^th anniversary in September. Here is a look at some of its milestones.

Advocate, university program honored at conference

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

An advocate against domestic violence and a college program designed to end sexual assaults were recognized at the 2016 Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Since the tragic morning in April when eight members of the Rhoden family were found shot to death in four homes in Pike County, the investigation has been a priority for my office. After realizing the magnitude of the crime, Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader requested the assistance of the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Since that time, our agents have been working long hours to gather clues and uncover evidence.

Badges for Baseball kids tour OSU

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

About 130 children from throughout Ohio had a chance to experience college life and sports during a daylong event hosted by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

BCI, Battelle partnership to usher in new DNA technology

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Revolutionary DNA technology will soon be used at the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) thanks to an innovative partnership.

BCI yesterday and today

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will celebrate its 95^th anniversary in September. The bureau started in 1921 as a record-keeping facility operated by the Department of Public Welfare. By 1924, a superintendent, one assistant, and a corps of inmates from the Ohio State Penitentiary had become the caretakers of criminal identification and fingerprint records, which they would make available to law enforcement agencies. The bureau moved to the Department of Mental Hygiene and Corrections and then to the Department of Corrections. In 1963, it became part of the Attorney General’s Office.

Ceremony honors Ohio’s fallen officers

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

At the 2016 Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony, Christine Harvey found solace being among the family and friends of her fiancé — Deputy Michael Brandle of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, who died last year during a training exercise — and being with others who understand her heartache.

Fire marshal’s forensic lab finds answers in the ashes

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Crime scenes often unite investigators from different agencies, for example the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Group working on model vehicle pursuit policy

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Troubled by the deaths that have resulted from law enforcement vehicle pursuits, particularly one in Huber Heights, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine formed an advisory group in April to examine the issue and create a model pursuit policy that can be used by agencies throughout the state.

OHLEG updated to better serve needs of law enforcement

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

User feedback has been positive on the May upgrade of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (OHLEG) system, and, according to support specialists, calls to the help desk have decreased dramatically.

Q&A: Valoria Hoover, chief of the Ohio Attorney General’s Environmental Enforcement Section

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The section investigates and prosecutes those who violate Ohio's environmental laws and represents state agencies that protect Ohioans and their environment and natural resources.

Safety stressed for National Missing Children’s Day

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Families gathered May 21 in Reynoldsburg to observe National Missing Children’s Day at an event sponsored by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Reynoldsburg Youth Human Trafficking Coalition.

Toys, books donated to advocacy centers

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and a group of volunteers filled boxes with stuffed animals, books, and journals to be given to abused children who seek services from the Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers.

Trace evidence: When small clues add up

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Mud is enough to sink some criminals.

‘Black Hawk Down’ leader to offer message of support

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Col. Danny McKnight, who has been sharing lessons on life and leadership since his retirement from the Army in 2002, will be a featured speaker at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2016 Law Enforcement Conference.

‘Safe Neighborhoods’ seeks to end culture of violence

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

On a Thursday afternoon, seven men sat quietly in the jury box of a Butler County courtroom listening to testimony about the suffering caused by gun violence. They weren’t part of a jury, though, in fact, they were called to the court by their parole officers to listen to a warning about the perils of criminal life.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Each month, new progress is being made by my office’s Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Testing Initiative. As of Aug. 1, 294 law enforcement agencies had submitted 13,908 kits to be tested as part of the initiative. Forensic scientists with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) completed testing on a total of 11,472 kits, resulting in 4,129 hits in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).

Attorney General awards more than $1.4 million to rape crisis centers

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced in July that his office has awarded 29 Ohio rape crisis centers with a total of more than $1.4 million in grant funding.

BCI processes kit swiftly to pinpoint suspect

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The laboratory team at the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) in Richfield acted quickly to help law enforcement identify a suspect in a recent abduction and rape in Canton.

Grant to pay for study to streamline SAK process

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office have been awarded a grant of almost $440,000 to identify ways to streamline the analytical process of testing Sexual Assault Kits (SAKs).

Group members experience high-speed chase without the risk

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Before creating a model vehicle pursuit policy that can be used by law enforcement throughout the state, members of the Attorney General's Advisory Group on Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuits spent some time recently chasing suspects — in a simulator.

Historical inductions sought for memorial wall

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Organizers of the Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony are seeking the names of those who died in the line of duty before 2015 but have yet to be recognized.

In the Courts

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

United States v. Crumpton, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 9993 (6th Cir. June 2, 2016)
In this case, the 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals addressed whether an officer is required to tell a suspect, as part of the Miranda rights, that he or she has a right to stop answering questions at any time.

Lucas County Sheriff’s Office aims to reduce risks posed by high-speed pursuits with GPS tracking technology

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

In an effort to prevent high-speed pursuits, the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office purchased a high-tech solution: GPS tags and launchers which reduce pursuit risks to officers and bystanders.

Q&A: R. David Picken, chief of the Criminal Justice Section

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The section strives to uphold lawfully imposed death sentences, assists county prosecutors at the trial level in death penalty cases when requested, and defends the state in federal civil rights litigation brought by inmates.

Remains identified through Project LINK

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Skeletal remains found on March 22 in Lorain County were recently identified through the Ohio Attorney General’s Project LINK (Linking Individuals Not Known).

Section repeats with Best Brief Award

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Appeals Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office was awarded a Best Brief Award from the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) for its work on Sheriff v. Gillie.

Sexual assault kit testing saves $40,866 per conviction, research shows

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A project conducted by researchers at Case Western Reserve University shows that the Ohio Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Testing Initiative not only brings criminals to justice, but also saves communities money in the long run.

Unfit K-9 units could be decertified after rule change

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) voted May 12 to give its executive director the ability to revoke the certification of any dysfunctional law enforcement K-9 unit.

Familial DNA search by BCI used in child-abduction case

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine recently called for the use of a new tool at the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to track down a suspected serial predator.

Drug epidemic front and center for Attorneys General

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

HUNTINGTON, W.VA. — The heroin epidemic recognizes no boundaries, so Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear, and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey united on Oct. 27 to host a tri-state conference aimed at fighting their mutual enemy.

Symposium focuses on response strategies

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Experienced crime scene agents, computer forensic specialists, investigators, and prosecutors on the front line of the fight against the opiate epidemic offered insights during a symposium at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2016 Law Enforcement Conference.

Subject of facial reconstruction positively identified at BCI

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The subject of a facial reconstruction performed at the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) has been identified as Tiffany Dawn Chambers, 33, of Florida.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Every day, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is making a difference for law enforcement and the safety and security of Ohio’s families.

Q&A: Lori Anthony, chief of the Ohio Attorney General’s Civil Rights Section

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General's Civil Rights Section represents the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and prosecutes cases on the commission’s behalf.

Workshops cover fair housing, employment

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Civil Rights Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office conducts free training for employers, landlords, small-business owners, lawyers, and others throughout the state to promote compliance with fair employment and fair housing laws.

20 Continuing Professional Training hours required in 2017

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Advisory group issues report about pursuits

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Advisory Group on Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuits issued its recommendations in a 16-page report released on Nov. 3.

Honors and accolades

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A task force formed to take on the heroin crisis, an officer who provided lifesaving aid to his sergeant, and a retired detective sergeant who set up a unit to help crime victims were among the nine individuals and three groups recognized in October at the 2016 Ohio Distinguished Law Enforcement Achievement Awards.

Advisory group working on model policy for ‘drone’ use

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

As many law enforcement agencies across the state are buying unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — commonly referred to as drones — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine wants to make sure they are being used with care.

Agencies share stories of success in fight against opioids

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In his second statewide meeting dealing with Ohio’s opioid crisis, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine encouraged the audience of more than 1,300 social service providers, public safety officials, and others to share ideas and build on existing programs to make a difference.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A recent incident at a Washington Court House elementary school provided a glimpse of what children, schools, and communities are fighting in the battle against the heroin epidemic.

Attorney General awards $2.6 million to launch Trauma Recovery Centers

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is awarding more than $2.6 million in grants to create a network of support services to help heal victims of violent crime.

BCI Science School lets students solve mystery, learn

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

While solving a mystery about what happened to a farmer and his dog, fourth-graders at Herbert Mills STEM Elementary School were also learning science — and some technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, too.

BCI to use data to identify potential human trafficking victims

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Through a new service at the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), local law enforcement agencies will be receiving tips about children who are at risk of falling victim to human trafficking.

Conference aims to energize crime victim advocates

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance will enter its 26^th year with the theme “A Call to Action.”

Forensic artist traces interest in science to sixth-grade project

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When she was in sixth grade, Samantha Molnar received a toy facial reconstruction kit from her parents. She’s been hooked on forensic science ever since.

Fund helps qualified crime victims cover expenses

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Though he doesn’t consider himself a victim, the deputy director of the Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program has experienced violent crime.

OPOTC votes to add renewal process for corrections, jailer, bailiff commander certificates

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) voted at its January meeting to add to the requirements for certification for corrections, jailer, and bailiff basic training school commanders to bring them in line with certification changes in 2016 to peace officer basic and private security basic school commanders.

Program shields victims’ addresses

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and menacing who are trying to rebuild their lives can now start fresh and with more confidence that they can keep their address out of the public record.

Q&A: D. Michael Sheline, assistant section chief, Ohio Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services Section

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services Section offers aid to victims, training for professionals who work with victims, and crime prevention programs for Ohio communities.

Videos, other resources available online

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

At the Pickaway County Jail, inmates used to detox while behind bars, immediately relapse when they got out, and wind up back in jail.

Training village opens at OPOTA in London

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The first phase of a law enforcement training village, complete with simulators and live role players, was unveiled by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine on May 9 and is now open to officers who take courses at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) in London.

Webcasts, online courses prove popular with law enforcement

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) is providing advanced training to more law enforcement officers than ever thanks in part to live webcasts and online courses, according to
a six-year review.

State takes action against drugmakers

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit on May 31 against five leading prescription opioid manufacturers that he said contributed to the state’s deadly addiction crisis.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

At the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, we are always looking for innovative ways to support law enforcement. We recently opened a training village at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) in London and a new laboratory in Springfield. These are two ventures designed to improve education and services, which, in turn, will help peace officers fight crime and return home safely after each shift.

Q&A: Karen Huey, assistant superintendent at the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) provides expert criminal investigative and laboratory services to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies upon request at no cost.

BCI opens new lab in Springfield for testing drugs

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) laboratory in Springfield opened on May 23 to provide drug testing services for law enforcement agencies in Clark County and beyond.

Honoring their sacrifice: Hundreds gather to remember fallen officers

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The pipes and drums rendition of Amazing Grace at the 2017 Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony brought on tears for Andria Velez, 22, who attended the May 4 event to honor her father, Trooper Kenneth Velez of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Pilot program to help children of addicts

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

With foster care programs being innundated by an influx of children of addicts, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a new pilot program to provide targeted treatment for troubled families in 18 counties.

Updated CODIS DNA kits being introduced to agencies

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will soon be providing a new type of DNA collection kit to law enforcement agencies. The updated Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) kits, which are less bulky and use a preservative paper, will be mailed out as agencies request more DNA collection kits.

Advocates look for ways to help vulnerable children

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

About 120 advocates gathered at the 2017 Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance to brainstorm about the crime of child abuse and ways to work together on new methods of prevention, intervention, and accountability.

Did you know?

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Since the passage of House Bill 366 in 2014, hospice providers have been required to request that any opioids remaining after a patient’s treatment or death be turned over to hospice by the family for disposal. (The disposal occurs at the patient’s home and is witnessed.)

Pay attention to surroundings, survivor says

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Gina DeJesus, who was abducted and held captive with two other girls for more than nine years in Cleveland, urged the attendees of the May 20 in Reynoldsburg for National Missing Children’s Day to be more observant and ask more questions about things they see going on around them.

Detective receives first Special Courage Award at conference

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A detective who works to bridge the gap between children’s services and law enforcement was recognized with the first Special Courage Award during the awards ceremony of the 2017 Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance.

$3 million in grants awarded to 40 agencies

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

During a news conference in Strongsville, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced on Sept. 6 that 40 law enforcement departments and their partners will receive $3 million in grants to be used to replicate or expand partnership programs that address the opioid epidemic.

With opioids, just a speck can be deadly

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A person doesn’t have to be an opioid abuser to be injured or killed by the drug. Children and first responders are among those at risk of injury or death from accidental exposure.

Former spy plane pilot to share story of survival, determination

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Brian Shul, who overcame life-threatening injuries to become the pilot of the fastest plane in history, will be the keynote speaker at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2017 Law Enforcement Conference.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When parents suffer from addiction, they don’t suffer alone. Their children become innocent victims traumatized by living in chaos. As the opioid epidemic has taken hold in Ohio, more children have been put at risk by parental addiction. Increasingly, those children have been entering the child welfare system, including foster care.

DeWine awards $2.7 million in grants for drug prevention in schools

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is awarding more than $2.7 million in grant money to law enforcement agencies that present drug-prevention programs at Ohio’s public schools.

Unlocking digital evidence: BCI’s Cyber Crimes Unit helps law enforcement access, preserve valuable data

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Cellphones packed with text messages, emails, phone numbers, photos, location data, and chat logs are valuable sources of information for criminal investigators. Many of the phones that law enforcement officers confiscate, however, are locked by passwords, damaged, or contain encrypted data.

Face added to skull found in Akron

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Akron authorities recently unveiled the forensic facial reconstruction of a man whose skull was found in January 2016 on a sidewalk in front of a burned out home.

Agencies urged to resubmit pre-2013 latent prints

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state are being encouraged to resubmit latent fingerprints to the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) from unsolved, pre-2013 cases in hopes that new technology might provide fresh leads.

OPOTC aims for greater efficiency

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Peace Officer Training Commission is on a quest to cut red tape, remove inefficiencies, and improve customer service.

OPOTC reminds officers to complete mandated training before 2018 deadline

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Officials at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) are documenting who among Ohio’s 33,340 law enforcement officers have completed statutorily mandated training and reminding those who haven’t that the deadline for doing so is next year.

Kids team up for tournament

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio chalked up a repeat win on July 12 during the second annual “quickball” tournament organized by the office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

BCI Science School available free online

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A mystery involving a farmer and his dog is at the heart of a free, 26-part lesson plan that uses hands-on experiments to teach science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.

Agencies invited to borrow training equipment

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new program from the Attorney General’s Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) is bringing free, scenario-based training to the doorsteps of local law enforcement agencies.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The opioid epidemic is a human tragedy of epic proportion. The foster care system is bursting at the seams, jails are serving as detox centers, employers can’t find qualified applicants who can pass a drug test, and tragically, at least 15 Ohioans are dying from overdoses every day.

Attorney General gathers medical professionals for statewide opioid summit

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

In the third installment of his “Ideas” series addressing the state’s opioid crisis, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine focused on the medical and treatment community.

DeWine details plan to fight epidemic at drugmakers’ expense

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine traveled around the state Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 providing details of his 12-point plan to combat the opioid epidemic and get drugmakers to pay for it.

New K-9 agent has a nose for electronics

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new crime fighter has been unleashed to sniff out evidence in Ohio.

Q&A: James Burke, director of advanced training, Attorney General’s Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

OPOTA’s Advanced Training Section provides specialized instruction for peace officers in areas such as community relations, de-escalation, report writing, subject control, driving, and firearms-related courses. In addition to these topics, the advanced training staff also conducts instructor-level courses and scenario-based, simulation, and e-learning courses using various platforms and methods.

Annual awards recognize officers’ hard work, bravery in the line of duty

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Each year, the Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference features an awards luncheon in which officers past and present, and community members who support law enforcement, are recognized for their achievements during the past year. The 2017

Cyber Crimes Unit offers to help investigators crack skimmer cases

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Cyber Crimes Unit of the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is helping law enforcement agencies investigate crimes involving credit-card skimmers.

More than 13,000 sexual assault kits analyzed as part of initiative

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Testing Initiative reached a milestone in the fall as it surpassed 13,000 kits analyzed.

Roundtable discussion centers on cybersecurity

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement officials, business owners, technologists, and education professionals gathered Oct. 12 at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2017 Law Enforcement Conference to talk about cybersecurity and the need for collaboration to fight cybercrime.

Sexual assault kit testing initiative reaches goal

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s initiative to test the rape kits that had been lingering in police evidence lockers for decades has wrapped up, with 13,931 tested for DNA in a little more than five years.

Annual conference to focus on protecting Ohio’s families

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

On the heels of the completion of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Testing Initiative, a related symposium will take place on the second day of the Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance, set for May 14-15 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

When I first took office as Attorney General in 2011, I was shocked to learn that thousands of sexual assault kits were sitting — untested — in police evidence rooms across the state. The situation came as a surprise because when I was in the U.S. Senate, I sponsored the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act, which provided millions of dollars to pay for DNA testing.

Q&A: J. Doug Daniels, senior law enforcement training officer, remote pilot, Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement training officers provide advanced instruction to peace officers and other criminal justice professionals on a wide array of topics. Daniels teaches a refresher course for peace officers returning from a break in service, as well as firearms, officer survival, patrol tactics, and first aid courses. Daniels has a remote pilot certificate from the FAA and served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Group on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

Advisory group on ‘drones’ makes 14 recommendations

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Advisory Group on Unmanned Aircraft Systems has released its report, which includes 14 recommendations and a model policy for use by law enforcement.

BCI identifies 146 children at risk of falling prey to traffickers

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A service offered last year to local law enforcement agencies by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) identified 146 children who were at risk of falling victim to human trafficking in 2017.

Quick reference card offers guidance in human trafficking cases

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Supreme Court has issued a bench card on human trafficking for common pleas and municipal courts, said Diana Ramos-Reardon, the court’s domestic violence program manager.

Advocates share ways to make a difference in opioid crisis

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

In the fourth installment of the Ohio Attorney General’s “Ideas” series addressing the state’s opioid crisis, guest speakers and panelists focused on the collaboration necessary to bring about addiction recovery and the latest research about the disease.

Work-related trauma takes toll on health

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Trauma, either witnessed or experienced second-hand by first responders, health care professionals, and victim advocates, can have a lasting negative effect, but there are ways to protect oneself and become more resilient, according to Kenneth R. Yeager, director of the STAR (Stress, Trauma, and Resilience) Program at The Ohio State University.

Photo technique puts missing mom’s case in spotlight

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

An age-progression photo technique used by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) can put the spotlight on unsolved missing persons cases.

Updates made to improve dorms

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Officers staying in the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) dorms in London should rest more comfortably now that two new air handlers have been installed and changes have been made to the ventilation system.

Officers urged to carry Marsy’s Law cards

Mon, 07 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is encouraging law enforcement officers to distribute the new “You Have Rights” card to victims of crime.

Conference, symposium shine spotlight on work of victim advocates

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

During the 2018 Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance May 14-15 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Special Investigations Division Chief Richard A. Bell of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office were among the featured speakers who recognized the important work of advocates and of all of those involved in delivering justice in rape cases going back decades.

Children pay price for chaos at home, study shows

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The negative experiences of children affect who they become, their physical and mental wellness, and their ability to succeed in life, according to a pediatrician and expert on child abuse featured at the Ohio Attorney General’s “Ideas for Our Future” conference.

Conference videos

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

For the “Ideas For Our Future” conference, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office produced videos that focus on how to help young victims of the opioid epidemic.

A letter from the Attorney General:

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Many of Ohio’s children are practically raising themselves, as one or both of their parents are dependent on drugs and cannot properly provide for them. The chaos at home spills over into every area of their lives. Truancy, poor school performance, and behavior problems are all side effects of the difficulties these children are experiencing.

New resource makes it easier to report use-of-force incidents

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (OHLEG) has added a new feature to its record’s management system that provides an easy way for officers to report incidents involving a use of force.

Naloxone rebate agreement extended

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has extended an agreement that allows state and local agencies that purchase the opioid antidote drug naloxone to receive rebates.

Q&A: J. Bartley Cosgrove, director of the Economic Crimes Unit of the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Economic Crimes Unit works with county prosecutors and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute consumer-related crimes.

Fatal overdose prosecutions rely on solid investigations

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Good police work at the crime scene lays the groundwork for a successful overdose death prosecution, according to presenters at a training event put on by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute.

Remembering Heroes: Ceremony pays tribute to fallen officers

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, members of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, and law enforcement officers from throughout the state gathered May 3 in London for the annual Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony to honor the 791 Ohio peace officers who have died in the line of duty since 1823.

Officers, agency leaders appreciate data, want more, surveys show

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement agencies are collecting valuable data, want greater access to data, and are prepared to share data, according to two recent surveys by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Event shines spotlight on missing persons

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

In honor of Ohio Missing Persons Day, organized by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and Battelle, families united on May 19 to remember their loved ones and talk to those who are working to find new leads in their cases.

Advocate honored for her work with rape survivors

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

As peace officers, prosecutors, and others were in a symposium across the hall discussing cold-case sexual assault investigations and the importance of victim advocates, one who has been on the forefront of educating about and promoting crime victims’ rights for almost 25 years was being honored as part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance.

Survivors to be able to track rape kits

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

An electronic tracking system will soon allow sexual assault survivors to monitor the progress of their evidence kits through the testing process.

Speaker draws from history to fight human trafficking

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Kenneth B. Morris Jr., a descendant of both abolitionist Frederick Douglass and civil rights leader Booker T. Washington, will be the keynote speaker at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2018 Law Enforcement Conference.

A Letter From the Attorney General

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Since 2011, my office has been working to reform the process for testing sexual assault kits and to better support survivors. We formed an advisory group to study the issue of old rape kits and to offer remedies. It recommended that evidence from any rape kit associated with a crime be tested.

Q&A: Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth, chairperson of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC)

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

OPOTC helps the Attorney General’s Office shape training and compliance standards for Ohio peace officers.

Academy applicants to take expanded drug screen

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Academy applicants to take expanded drug screenAs of Jan. 1, two prescription opioids will be added to the drug screen for applicants to Ohio’s peace officer basic training academies.

Distracted and Deadly

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Advocating against distracted driving has become Sharon Montgomery’s mission in life.

Two workshops to cover distracted driving

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Two workshops being offered at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2018 Law Enforcement Conference will focus on distracted driving.

Foundation reaches young drivers through outreach program

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

To help prevent distracted driving, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office has given more than $16,000 to the Maria Tiberi Foundation.

Underwater Evidence Finders: Forensic dive team helps ATF with firearms case

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Persistence often pays off for the BCI Forensic Dive Team as it did recently when a second diligent search of a Champaign County lake turned up potential evidence in a gun store robbery case.

Commission votes on training rules for tactical medics

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Now that tactical medical professionals are permitted to carry firearms, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) voted in July on training rules, as required by recently passed House Bill 79.

Videos to aid in school safety planning

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A video series produced by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) is providing guidance on how educators and law enforcement can work together to prepare for and react to a violent school incident.

BCI drones available to photograph schools

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is offering to use drones to take aerial photographs of schools for inclusion in school safety plans.

Sex offender registration guide updated

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has updated its Guide to Ohio’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Laws manual.

DeWine awards grants for drug use prevention education

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

At total of 152 law enforcement agencies throughout the state will receive more than $3 million in grants to use for drug use prevention education programs in public schools, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced.

As new AG, Dave Yost is committed to working with, for local law enforcement

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Dave Yost came into office as Ohio Attorney General pledging to champion those state residents who don’t have lobbyists or who can’t afford to take part in government.

Local law enforcement officials say Ohio BCI 'makes us better'

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A strength of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is that it puts the latest forensic science in reach for all law enforcement forces in Ohio, regardless of the size of their budgets.

Forensic science center opens at Bowling Green

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Those learning at the Ohio Attorney General’s Center for the Future of Forensic Science at Bowling Green State University, which opened in January, work on cutting-edge equipment, just like what’s used at the Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s crime lab up the street.

Pike County gets $100,000 in help for expensive trials of murder suspects

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Dave Yost has presented Pike County with a $100,000 check to help pay for a notorious capital murder case in which eight members of one family were killed in one night.

A letter from Attorney General Dave Yost

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

One week before the day I was inaugurated as Ohio Attorney General, Colerain Township Police Officer Dale Woods died after he was struck by a vehicle while on duty. On that dark and rainy night, Officer Woods had pulled a woman from a burning car, saving her life.

Q&A: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

What do you want Ohio’s law enforcement officers and firefighters to know about the kind of Attorney General you are? No politics, just results. You will be able to reach me.

Q&A: Joe Morbitzer, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

What do you bring from your 33 years with the Westerville Police Department to your new role leading BCI?
Experience in cooperating with criminal justice professionals. Over the years, I have been able to develop relationships with these professionals, not just on a statewide level but also nationally and internationally.

By the numbers: the death penalty in Ohio

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Some facts and figures from the 2018 Annual Report on Capital Crimes, recently completed by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office:

We're looking for feedback

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

We’re looking for ways to improve the On the Job newsletter — to turn it into a “must-read” for you and your colleagues in law enforcement — and we’d like your help.

OPOTA honors brave officers who gave everything

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

On May 2, four Ohio officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2018 were honored at the 32nd annual Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony.

Welcome Jeffrey Scott, new leader of OPOTA

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

As the new executive director of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, Jeffrey Scott said he welcomes suggestions for improvement from the staff and others.

Welcome Heinz von Eckartsberg, BCI's new No. 2

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The new assistant superintendent of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation knows what local police need.

Basketball standout finds new pursuit after attack prevents pro career

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Aswad Thomas, who is booked to speak at the Two Days in May Conference on Victims Assistance, tells a story about two young men of color who come from the same poor neighborhood. One is Thomas himself.

Grants will help trafficking victims

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

As attorney general, Dave Yost is emphasizing the fight against human trafficking, and he is turning up the pressure.

A letter from Attorney General Dave Yost on victim advocates

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

I don’t pretend to know what it’s like to be the victim of a violent crime, or what it’s like to have a family member experience such a violation.

Low-profile state commission helps local police fight organized crime

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission would be the last crime-fighting group to crow about the many wins it has helped engineer through its 33-year history.

How familial DNA led to ‘a serial killer’

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A familial DNA test rarely used in Ohio led to the arrest of Samuel W. Legg III, a former truck driver suspected of killing at least three women decades ago — and maybe his stepdaughter.

A checklist for supervisors: Planning for officer-involved shootings

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The critical first minutes after an officer-involved shooting are chaotic, commonly characterized by confusion, conflicting information and sensory overload. Creating order out of the chaos and taking command necessitate a level of confidence that can come from preparation. These suggestions serve as a guide.

Q&A: Carol O’Brien, deputy attorney general for law enforcement

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

What does your job entail? I oversee seven “sections” within the Attorney General’s Office: the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, Special Prosecutions, the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, Health Care Fraud, Crime Victims and Criminal Justice. There are about 670 employees within those sections, and their responsibilities are wide-ranging.

Brain injury a hidden risk for domestic violence victims

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

For years now, people have recognized the serious effects of traumatic brain injury on pro football players and young athletes. Now Ohio advocates for domestic violence survivors are connecting the dots for a population whose most common injuries, according to the CDC, involve the head, neck and face.

A letter from Dave Yost: Announcing new science-based efforts to fight addiction

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Battling the opioid epidemic — and saving lives — must encompass a holistic approach, one involving law enforcement, treatment, education and prevention. That last component calls for a thorough exploration of what we can do to stop more people from falling victim to opioid addiction.

Record-setting deputy has volunteered with Meigs County for 66 years

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

At 91, Howard Mullen owns an official Meigs County Sheriff's Office deputy’s uniform, a 1947 Ford kitted out like an old-time police car and the record as Ohio’s longest-certified law officer. But since he started in 1953, he has always served the sheriff’s office on a part-time, volunteer basis.

A letter from Dave Yost: Human trafficking turns girls into slaves

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

I wish Julia Roberts and Richard Gere had never made “Pretty Woman.” That movie, a Cinderella story about a prostitute who finds love and a good man in the course of her working life, begs a question: Why should society tell two adults that one cannot pay the other for sex?

Q&A: Jennifer Rausch, Legal Director of the Attorney General's Human Trafficking Initiative

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

What does your new job entail? The attorney general has set four priorities to fight human trafficking, and it’s my job to help him accomplish them. They are:

Alliance police officer building a better city, one child at a time

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ALLIANCE, Ohio — When the transition from elementary to intermediate school proved difficult for Carter, he found a refuge in a martial arts program for kids run by Police Officer Roy Tittle.

Preventing violence: New program will train police officers, schools to assess threats

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

One of the questions that inevitably arises after a school shooting is: When the shooter clearly showed signs of trouble, why wasn’t the attack prevented?

Now available: Traffic safety grants cover OPOTA tuition

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

OPOTA has grant money available to reimburse law enforcement officers for tuition to certain traffic safety courses.

2019 Law Enforcement Conference awards honor ‘best of the best’

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The 2019 Law Enforcement Conference, hosted in the fall by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, celebrated the great work being done by Ohio peace officers and their partners. Here are the winners of the Distinguised Law Enforcement Awards.

Q&A: Sarah Shendy, Copley Police Officer, OPOTA Trainer

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Sarah Shendy is a veteran Copley police officer, an OPOTA trainer and a Muslim woman who has had such a positive experience in policing that she would recommend the career to anyone, especially minorities.

Q&A: Dwight ‘Dee’ Holcomb, Executive Director of OPOTA

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

What do you think of the state of police training in Ohio? It’s good, but it can always be expanded. We need to be proactive in identifying what the future issues in policing will be.

A letter from Dave Yost: Fallen officers deserve honor — and justice

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Morrow Police Officer Jeffrey Phegley — a 22-year-old who was murdered on the job in 1987 — was the kind of young man who’d start off his shift singing to co-workers.

New efforts aim to end human trafficking in Ohio

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

During the first 11 months of 2019 alone, law enforcement task forces in Ohio rescued 110 trafficking victims and referred 217 more to services. That’s almost 330 Ohioans combined who have not had control of their lives, and it's just the tip of the iceberg.

School threat assessment training now available

Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has produced video training to help law enforcement officers work with schools to create threat assessment teams, a proven method of preventing school violence.

Death penalty report shows downward trend

Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

In 2019, trials in Ohio resulted in death sentences for six people, the most since 2010 and a rare total for the decade, according to the 2019 Capital Crimes Annual Report.

Violent Offender Registry reaches one-year mark

Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio’s Violent Offender Registry has been “live” for a year and contains 804 records.

Gone but never forgotten: Remembering 2019's fallen officers

Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Because of coronavirus concerns, the Attorney General’s Office followed the lead of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in canceling the Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony. But that doesn’t mean we should postpone honoring the officers who gave their lives in 2019 to protect the people of Ohio. Here are the three killed last year in the line of duty:

A letter from Dave Yost: Helping police is essential during pandemic

Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

While many in our state work from home and practice social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, our safety forces don’t have those luxuries.

Sexual Assault Kit Tracking System will keep survivors informed

Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

By this time next year, victims of sexual assault across Ohio should be able to anonymously check whether their examination kit evidence has been sent to a law enforcement agency or to a crime lab for testing.

Immediate safety net of support: Trauma recovery team, Cleveland police team up

Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

In 2018, Cmdr. Brandon Kutz of the Cleveland Division of Police moved some new workers into the headquarters of his Fourth District.

Body armor grants expanded

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Law Enforcement Body Armor Program has been granted $3.5 million to help local law enforcement agencies buy vests for their officers this fiscal year, which runs through June 30, 2021.

School threat assessment grants now available

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

For law enforcement officers who completed the Ohio School Threat Assessment Training program, the next step — and the opportunity to earn more money — has opened.

Experienced cops share why they became politicians

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

On the Job recently caught up with three state legislators who used to be law enforcement officers to find out why they decided to make the jump and why their experience is valuable at the Statehouse.

Media strategy evolved as Harley Dilly case did

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Port Clinton Police Chief Robert Hickman started with a daily briefing and evolved to one daily update with the same information going to every media outlet, whether local or national, and no sidebar comments.

The Harley Dilly search: the good, the bad & the ugly

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Before COVID-19 and summer protests rocked the U.S., Port Clinton, Ohio, felt the heat of such controversy when social media, backseat Sherlocks and holiday schedules complicated the search for teen Harley Dilly.

Policing today: A time to build, not tear down

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The summer turmoil actually opens doors for boosting trust and proving the value of police, who took their jobs to help their communities, not hurt them.

Gone but never forgotten: Remembering 2020’s fallen officers

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

On May 6, the officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2020 were honored at the Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony.

A letter from Dave Yost: Police officer proves negative stereotype wrong

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Officer Kaia Grant of the Springdale Police Department was killed on the job in March 2020. To this day, you can find photos she posted on the social media site Flickr. They serve as a window into the way the budding photographer viewed the world.

Slowly, more women wearing sheriff’s boots, badge in Ohio

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Three of Ohio’s 88 sheriffs are women – an all-time high.

Training revolution: OPOTA to introduce new online training platform

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The days of passive online law enforcement training are numbered.

Honoring a pair of heroes

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Police officers from Toledo and Columbus faced off in a hockey fundraiser to pay tribute to fallen Toledo Officers Anthony Dia and Brandon Stalker. More than $13,500 was raised on ticket sales, with the proceeds benefitting a scholarship fund named in memory of the officers.

Attorney General’s Drug Dropoff Days complement DEA’s Take Back Days

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

When opioid overdose deaths spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, AG Yost knew something had to be done. Two Drug Dropoff Day events hosted by Yost have yielded more than a 1,100 pounds of unused or expired prescription medications, and a third drop-off day is being planned for this summer.

OPOTA initiates training required for officers in 2022

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Throughout Ohio in 2022, law enforcement officers will be taking additional training to better protect themselves and the public. More than 33,000 Ohio law enforcement officers will be required to take Continuing Professional Training (CPT).

Hitting the demand side hard

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

At his third annual Human Trafficking Summit, in January, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the creation of guidelines for courts and communities interested in establishing “john schools” and the availability of seed money to help develop or improve 10 such program statewide.

Two Days in May: Forum to focus on sexual abuse in sports, Dayton shooting

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The Two Days in May Conference for crime victim advocates is back in person at the Greater Columbus Convention Center with a special focus on resiliency. The conference has been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic for the past two years.

HONORING FALLEN OFFICERS: A solemn duty to remember

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony in London honors the memory of five men lost in the line of duty in 2021 and all the law enforcement officers who preceded them.

All About CPT

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

In 2022, law enforcement officers across the state are required to complete 24 hours of continuing professional training (CPT). Here’s what they need to know.

No Permit Needed

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

With a license no longer required in Ohio to carry a concealed handgun, law enforcement agencies are making adjustments.

Delaware Police Chief Joins BCI in No. 2 role

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Bruce Pijanowski takes over as assistant superintendent following the retirement of Heinz von Eckartsberg.

One of the Family, Forever

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

When tragedy struck, the Portsmouth PD looked after Paula Vogel. Seventy years later, a new generation of Portsmouth cops is doing the same.

A New Stage in Ballistic Testing

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Additional state-of-the-art imaging devices in Ohio will help law enforcement agencies link gun crimes that weren’t known to be related.

A License and a Leg Up

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Canton PD launches driver's ed program that aims to put low-income kids on road to brighter future

Help for Agencies Big and Small

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Police departments value having social workers address community needs that cops were never meant to resolve

A Closer Look at Two Troubling Topics

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Keynote presentations at the 2022 Law Enforcement Conference will focus on preventing police suicides and school shootings

The Right Way

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Here's why thorough, impartial investigations of police shootings can't be rushed

2023 HT Summit will shed light on darkness of labor trafficking

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Suleman Masood knows the terror of being trafficked and the trials of breaking free

Linda Powers Q&A

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Getting to know the new legal director of the AG's Human Trafficking Initiative

Welcome to the Blue family, kid

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Mansfield PD makes dream come true for 5-year-old who ‘always wanted to be a cop’

Rapid-drug-testing pilot program continues to expand

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Portable mass spectrometer gives law enforcement quick results

‘A cold case is not a closed case’

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Relentless investigators and forensic scientists, advances in DNA analysis unravel mystery of remains found 31 years ago

Leading the charge for crime victims’ rights

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Two Days in May: Empowering survivors to rebuild lives

‘We can all do it together’

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Identification of two longtime John Does underscores value of collaboration between BCI,
local law enforcement agencies

CPT program carries over into 2023 without interruption

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Legislature provides additional funding for advanced training

AG arranges school-response training for tactical officers

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Initiative complements school-threat assessment training

Forever remembered

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

2023 Ohio Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony honors 8 fallen officers

Crime-fighting muscle

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Thanks to BCI, Ohio law enforcement agencies now have more NIBIN sites available to connect gun crimes across the state and nation

The power of NIBIN: A case study

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Database connects Cleveland, Westlake cases

Submitting NIBIN evidence to BCI

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Proper handling, packaging, sealing and labeling are essential

NIBIN how-to videos available

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Training series coincides with major rollout of additional NIBIN machines around Ohio

CPT funding for next two years is assured

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Legislature dedicates $80 million in funding

FBI National Academy: A network of trust that helps Ohio

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

What happens outside the classroom is as important as what happens inside

‘Get your act together, son!’

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

One of Ohio’s early veterans response programs took root after a frustrating traffic stop in 2014

How to report violations under Ohio’s new distracted driving law

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Grace period ends Oct. 5, 2022

OPOTA’s Tom Quinlan has a vision for training

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

New assistant executive director brings lessons learned from experience leading Columbus police

Vets Helping Vets

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

More law enforcement agencies are working with in-house military veterans and local partners to make sure that struggling vets in their communities get the help they deserve.

Lessons in hope & compassion

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Educational program at Sandusky County Jail provides a first step to a second chance

News & notes

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement news briefs

Tenacity, technology trip up serial murderer

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

BCI Cold Case Unit works with local agencies to achieve justice

Law enforcement taking advantage of BCI's NIBIN expansion

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio agencies now have easier access to ballistics database

Looking ahead

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Digital composites enhance effectiveness of BCI’s clay models used in unidentified-remains cases

Leadership changes mark new eras at BCI, OPOTA

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Pijanowski takes helm at BCI, Quinlan at OPOTA

‘We’re not only arresting customers, we’re rescuing people’

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Massive collaboration fuels statewide human trafficking sting, resulting in arrest of 160 suspects and recovery of 104 victims

Best of the best

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

At the 2023 Law Enforcement Conference, Attorney General Yost led a celebration of the inspiring work being done by peace officers and others.

Notable successes

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The five cases summarized here highlight some of the collaborative successes achieved by BCI’s Cold Case Unit and its law enforcement partners.

Better Together

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

BCI’s holistic approach to investigating cold cases fosters collaborations across Ohio law enforcement

Facelift adds enduring luster to Fallen Officers Memorial Wall

Mon, 13 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Polished black granite panels at heart of renovation

We hold their memories dear

Mon, 13 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony honors nine men who died in recent years

Coming this fall: A reimagined law enforcement gathering

Mon, 13 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Annual conference will have a new look this year

Policing for today and the future

Mon, 13 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

AG’s task force lays out vision for law enforcement training in Ohio

Felonious Fantasies

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Detective’s fake ads snare men looking for sex with moms and their underage daughters

Human Trafficking Summit Aug. 7 at Hyatt Regency Columbus

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The annual AGO conference is in a new month and at a new location this year -- Aug.7 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus

Fallen Officers Memorial

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Renovation adds new luster to hallowed site at OPOTA

Euclid police officer killed in line of duty

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Jacob Derbin's career was only getting started when a gunman brought it to a tragic end

Law enforcement conference Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Sandusky

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Law Enforcement Training Symposium will bring a new look and feel to the annual event

Training overhaul gets green light

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Changes reflect new vision for law enforcment training in Ohio

Virtual-reality training is here

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The technology is 'the next best thing to real-world experience'

Law Enforcement Training Symposium

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Act now! LETS registration deadline is Sept. 23

'Doubling down'

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The combined use of NIBIN and DNA analysis at BCI's labs has added new muscle to the fight against gun crime in Ohio

Remembering Jamieson Ritter

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Slain Cleveland police officer was recognized for repeated acts of heroism

Solved, 34 years later

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

BCI-led cold-case team that investigated brutal attacks in northeast Ohio unearths truth in Arizona grave

AG successfully fights cop killer’s parole

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The though that the murderer could return to the streets is chilling, Yost says

Continuing professional training

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

What’s ahead for 2025

VR program update

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

More virtual reality content is being created and more instructors are being added to the pool

Honoring the best in law enforcement

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Each year, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission shines a spotlight on the outstanding accomplishments of a select group of officers and civilians who have been nominated for recognition.

Seeking justice for a veteran

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

North E. Woodall risked his life in three wars, only to be killed during a home invasion in 2009. BCI and the Dayton PD are teaming up to bring new energy to the cold case

Eyes on the road

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

AG Yost partners with trucking industry to battle human trafficking in Ohio

Confronting the unthinkable

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Two Days in May panel will examine community's resilience in face of day-care sex abuse

In remembrance, now and always

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

37th Ohio Peace O fficers Memorial Ceremony honors four men who died in recent years

Success, again

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Investigators ID another John Doe found in Stark County

Helping sheriffs help inmates

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

AG’s grant program seeks to curb addiction in Ohio’s jails

From Vision to Reality

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

New program for training police in Ohio already making an impact

Help for Ohio's jails

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Sheriffs urged to use AGO grants to fight addiction among inmate

VR plays bigger role in CPT

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

OPOTA developing more courses based on video scenarios

May turns tragic

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio loses two deputies in line of duty

Meeting the demand

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A new unit at BCI that’s dedicated to use-of-force cases will further enhance the quality of other investigations, too

Apply now for jail grant

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Application window runs through Dec. 1

Top honors

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Annual ceremony celebrates the best in law enforcement

Ohio makes it easier for former officers to return to service

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Revisions took effect Oct. 1

‘Senseless attack’ claims life of Lorain police officer

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Officer Phillip Wagner was killed in ambush

Teamwork, technology, tenacity

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Winning playbook paying off in 2025 for BCI Cold Case Unit, law enforcement partners

Help Us Stop Elder Abuse

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

AG’s campaign targets growing problem

Grant program to combat inmate addiction continues in 2026

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Grant program offers more help for jails in 2026

Northeast Ohio mourning deaths of peace officers

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio loses two peace officers in line of duty

Lucasville training partner joins Close to Home network

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Close to Home program adds seventh regional training partner

For law enforcement, searching databases is a whole lot easier now

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Database searches are easier and more effective now

Safeguarding the environment

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

‘Shine a Light on Dumpers’ initiative earns international award