COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Legislative leaders have finalized legislation to implement recommendations of a task force convened by the state attorney general after fatal police shootings and related protests in Ohio and nationally.
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Pictured above (l-r): Rep. Tim Derickson (R-Hanover Township), House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, Attorney General Mike DeWin (at podium), Senate Pres. Keith Faber, and Rep. Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) Photo courtesy Ohio House of Representatives.
A bill sponsored by Representatives Tim Derickson (R-Hanover Township), above far left, and Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville), far right, would lift the cap on the number of hours of basic training required for peace officers and other positions beyond 650 and would require all newly appointed peace officers to receive a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
DeWine’s task force recommended dramatically increasing the amount of basic and advanced training Ohio requires for police officers and reducing the number of police academies.
It also called for all potential police officers to have high school degrees and undergo drug screening, psychological evaluation and polygraphs. Many officers meet these mandates now, but they aren’t required.
Other recommendations included substantially increasing Ohio’s minimum required training hours and boosting the advanced-training hours required annually from four to 40.