Basic Peace Officer Academy

Academic Preparation

All basic Peace Officer Training Academy students must test and meet OPOTC physical fitness standards prior to the start of the academy, and in order to be eligible to take the state certification exam.

Academic Requirements

Applicants should contact Clark State's Police Academy to obtain an application packet which will have detailed information about when and how to complete these requirements.

Admission Requirement
Academy applicants must meet stringent entrance requirements as directed by the Attorney General of the State of Ohio before admitted to the program. Requirements that must be met are:

Mandatory Attendance
All hours of instruction in the police academy are mandatory. Any missed hours must be made up within 14 academy days at the cost of $35.00 an hour per required instructor plus any ancillary costs for instructional fees.  In the academy environment, excessive or habitual tardiness and absenteeism is considered to be disruptive behavior and can result in disciplinary action as set forth by the OPOTA Student Handbook and the rules and policies of Clark State College.

Attendance is taken and recorded throughout the academy day. Any cadet found falsifying his/her or another cadet’s attendance record is guilty of falsifying an official document and is subject to disciplinary systems outlined by Clark State College, as well as the OPOTC and the Ohio Revised Code, penalties could include, expulsion from the academy program and/or criminal prosecution.

Uniform, Grooming, and Appearance Requirements
Uniforms are required for all police academy students. The uniform shall consist of a police academy shirt (supplied by the academy), uniform pants, black t-shirt, black belt, black socks, and black shoes or boots. There are no exceptions to the uniform requirement and grooming and appearance standards as detailed in the Basic Peace Officer Training Academy Admissions Requirements Form.  In the academy environment, egregious and/or excessive violations of uniform, grooming, and/or appearance standards are considered to be disruptive behavior and can result in disciplinary action as set forth by the OPOTA Student Handbook and the rules and policies of Clark State College.

Code of Conduct
All cadets will conduct themselves in an honest, ethical and courteous manner. They will not engage in behavior or speech which is discourteous, racist, sexist or lewd in nature. Cadets must report anyone they observe engaging in any of these types of behavior to the academy commander. Any cadet engaging in any conduct which is considered, in the opinion of the academy commander, to be unbecoming of an officer will be subject to discipline.  Such violations are considered to be disruptive behavior and can result in disciplinary action as set forth by the OPOTA Student Handbook and the rules and policies of Clark State College.  Such discipline could include immediate dismissal from the Basic Peace Officer Training Academy Program.

Classroom Conduct
The Basic Peace Officer Training Academy is a very intense classroom environment. Cadets must take notes during class, which will be placed in a cadet notebook.  This is required by the Ohio Revised Code. This notebook will be used to study for the state certification exam.  Because of the importance of the topics being presented, no talking is permitted in the classroom, unless allowed by the instructor.  If a cadet is talking or otherwise disrupting the class, the instructor will dismiss the cadet from class. The cadet will then have to secure permission of the academy commander to re-enter the classroom. Electronic devices are prohibited in the classroom, with the sole exception of laptops for taking notes. This applies to cell phones, iPads, etc.  In the academy environment, egregious and/or excessive violations of classroom conduct rules are considered to be disruptive behavior and can result in disciplinary action as set forth by the OPOTA Student Handbook and the rules and policies of Clark State College.

Discrimination
It is the policy of the Clark State Basic Peace Officer Training Academy and Clark State College that educational activities, employment programs and services are offered without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual identity, religion, disability or age. A cadet needing any reasonable accommodation(s) made for training should make that need known immediately to the academy commander.  In the academy environment, any discriminatory practices or acts displayed by cadets are considered to be disruptive behavior and can result in disciplinary action as set forth by the OPOTA Student Handbook and the rules and policies of Clark State College.

Academic Misconduct
Students are expected to behave as responsible members of the College community and to be honest and ethical in their academic work. Activities of academic dishonesty corrupt the process of acquiring the knowledge and developing the skills necessary for success in any profession; such activities are considered a violation of the student code of conduct and are therefore prohibited. Students are responsible for understanding and abiding by the College Academic Integrity Procedures and definition of academic dishonesty as well as course and faculty-specific standards and expectations.

Cases involving academic dishonesty are handled within the academic school responsible for that course. Faculty and/or the academic school deans have the authority to issue a sanction up to a grade of zero for any assignment in which academic misconduct has occurred. In serious or repetitive incidences, the case will be referred to the Academic Incident Hearing Panel (AIHP) for further action. Such action may include issuing a failing grade for the course, probation, suspension and/or expulsion.

It should be noted that the rules of the OPOTC Basic Academy require that cadets pass every phase of testing throughout the academy program.  If a cadet’s academic misconduct were to result in a failing grade, they would fail the academy program and not be eligible to sit for the Peace Officer Certification Exam.

College Policies and Procedures
The peace officer basic academy is an integral part of the College community.  Many of the academy policies and procedures are mandated by the State of Ohio through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, but all College policies and procedures are also in effect for the academy cadet, who is also a Clark State College student.  For a full explanation of college policies and procedures, refer to the Clark State Student Handbook included with your academy information packet.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation is based on successful completion of OPOTA’s requirements. Upon successful completion of the program students will be eligible to take the state certification exam.  Successful completion of the exam allows students to obtain a position in law enforcement.