Columbus, Ohio – Attorney General Mike DeWine today called on the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) to adopt uniform pre-certification standards for all applicants to Ohio peace officer basic training academies. The request would implement several recommendations of the Ohio Attorney General’s Advisory Group on Law Enforcement Training, which issued a report of findings and recommendations in April 2015.

“It is time for uniformity of qualifications for all peace officer basic training applicants in Ohio,” said Attorney General DeWine. “Major police departments in Ohio, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, have already adopted these pre-certification standards. It is important that these increased standards be used by all academies.”

The increased pre-certification standards DeWine requested be adopted include:

• Drug Screening: applicants pass a drug screening prior to admission into an academy.
• Psychological Exam: each applicant undergoes a psychological exam to confirm that applicants have the right psychological makeup to serve as a peace officer.
• Truth Verification Test: each applicant pass a truth verification test, such as a voice stress analysis (VSA) or polygraph.
• Physical Fitness: candidates pass a pre-entrance physical fitness assessment.
• Additional criminal disqualifiers in addition to the current felony disqualifications.

Prior to the Advisory Group’s report, the only pre-certification requirements were:

• Applicants must be over the age of eighteen and have a medical provider sign off that they are physically able to attend an academy.
• Applicants with felony convictions or offenses that create a state or federal weapons disability are not permitted to attend a basic training academy.

In addition to the five standards which could be adopted by OPOTC, the Ohio General Assembly is reviewing legislation which would codify Ohio Administrative Code requirements of a high school diploma or GED for peace officer basic training applicants. House Bill 204, sponsored by Rep. Tim Derickson (R-Hanover Township) and Rep. Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville), passed the House on June 17, 2015 by a 96-2 vote. It is currently pending before the Senate Government and Reform Committee.

The next OPOTC meeting is scheduled to take place on January 14, 2016 in London, Ohio.

Portman’s conversion didn’t exactly come easy

“But it took tracking the senator down in the hallways beneath the Capitol building — and a very awkward 20-minute conversation — to bring him on board.”

Senior Congressional Reporter Michael McAuliff wrote at The Huffington Post this week that it took tracking down Ohio Senator Rob Portman in the hallways beneath the Capitol building — and a very awkward 20-minute conversation — to bring him on board.

As of Thursday morning, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) was among just 34 senators who had not signed on as a sponsor of a new 9/11 health and compensation bill.

But by nighttime that had changed, and the Ohio Republican and former Bush administration budget director became the 67th senator to back a bill that would make permanent the health and compensation program for 9/11 responders, which began to expire this year.

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Immediate openings are available to intern in Congressman Brad Wenstrup’s office, both in Washington D.C. and Ohio. Internship positions are offered for college and graduate students and are designed to provide students with a first-hand learning experience in a Congressional office. Applications are open for winter/spring and summer positions.

WHO: Any student enrolled in either college or graduate school and at least 18 years of age or older is eligible to apply. Successful candidates must possess notable academic and extracurricular achievements, leadership potential and a strong writing ability.

WHAT: Internships in Congressman Brad Wenstrup’s DC, Cincinnati, and Peebles offices for students who are interested in gaining hands-on experience in a Congressional office learning about legislative issues that are important to Ohio and the United States. Duties associated with the internship program include answering phones, responding to constituent mail, researching legislation, and other research and writing projects.

WHERE: Positions are currently available in the district offices in Cincinnati and Peebles, as well as the office in Washington, D.C.

HOW: To apply, complete the application here and send a cover letter and resume to the intern coordinator at oh02interns@gmail.com.

Map of the 2nd Congressional District