Clark State Community College will hold a graduation ceremony for cadets of the Peace Officer Training Academy at 6:30 p.m., July 31, 2018, in the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center, 275 South Limestone Street. The graduating class represents the 50th anniversary of the academy and the third class of cadets to complete training in the new facility located in the Brinkman Educational Center in downtown Springfield.
Paul Weber, commander of the Clark State Police Academy, said Clark State is sending well-trained cadets into the workforce, and he is confident they will make excellent police officers.
“The cadets spend 5-7 months of intense training to start a long and rewarding career in police service for our communities,” he said. “They spend countless hours away from their families and friends, work other jobs and complete over 730 hours of training. We are proud of their accomplishments and wish them all success as they move forward.”
The Clark State Police Academy also recently entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Springfield Police Division (SPD) establishing a joint mission to better train future candidates of the Springfield Police Division, Criminal Justice students and current police officers.
Weber said the MOU strengthens the future of the Clark State Police Academy. “Clark State can offer training and facilities for the Springfield Police Division, and SPD can offer their services to help grow the police academy within the community,” he said. “We will work together to recruit future officers for the police academy and the associate degree in Criminal Justice.”
Clark State Police Academy graduate Lee Graf was appointed chief of the Springfield Police Division in December of 2017. The Springfield Police Division is the 9th largest municipal police agency in the state of Ohio. He has also served as an instructor for the Clark State Police Academy for the past 15 years.
“The Clark State Police Academy provided me with the knowledge and skills needed to start my career as a law enforcement officer in the state of Ohio,” said Graf. “My classes prepared me to take and pass the examinations and skills tests required to attain my peace officer certification.”
Clark State’s state-of-the-art police academy training facility features a subject control/physical fitness center. A new practical training room is used for practical (hands-on) training for domestic violence, crime scene, DUI enforcement training and Milo System training (weapons scenario-based system to train officers in the use of force).
Interested students should visit Clark State’s Police Academy office in the Brinkman Educational Center in downtown Springfield to pick up and complete the required OPOTA application and other required forms. A candidate is then required to pass a physical assessment test, a physical, a drug screen and be finger printed for a BCI background check at the Clark County Sheriff’s Department.
Clark State offers four peace officer training academies each year—four-month daytime academies and six-month evening academies are each held twice a year. Each academy is limited to 25 cadets. Cadets must be 21 years of age at the time they take the state certification exam. Cadets must also have a valid Ohio driver’s license, a high school diploma or GED equivalent and cannot have any felony or violent misdemeanor convictions. Classes begin again in August.
Police Academy Graduates
Alpha
Colina Yates
Beavercreek
Patrick Martin
Bellefontaine
Jeananna McWadeMiriam Reames
Bloomingburg
Derrick Marcum
Columbus
Nicholaus Geurkink
Dayton
Christopher Elliott
Enon
Cameron Barberi
Fairborn
Larry Beasley
Timothy Howard
Jamestown
Jordan Petty
South Charleston
Amber Hayslip
Springfield
Stephen Diaz
Christopher Hall
Matthew Harris
Vincent Hess
Jordan Jenkins
Dakota Pollock
Urbana
Bryan Carnes
West Mansfield
Andrew Diener
Xenia
Jeremiah Hull