how to become a police officer in Ohio

Ohio requires all police officers to complete a 16-week basic training course at either the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy (www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/opota) or one of approximately 75 other schools in Ohio that is authorized by the Ohio Peace Officer Training to offer the basic training course.

There are two ways to enter an academy or school that offers the training. One is to first get a job with a police department and have the department send you to training at its expense. The other is “Open Enrollment,” that is enrolling before obtaining a job, on your own time and own expense.

Police Academy Schools in OH

A Google search for “Ohio schools that offer basic police training” will bring up a number of these institutions. Students will then have to contact the schools to find out if they accept open enrollment students (not all do) or only students sponsored by a police agency.

A benefit that open enrollment students may have in finding a job is that they can market themselves as already having passed the basic training course, saving the police jurisdiction the time and expense of sending a new officer to school.

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, in London, accepts only students who have been hired by a police agency. In addition to academics and skills areas of basic law enforcement, the curriculum at the Academy, which describes itself as a “semi-military style” residential academy, will include firearms and driving instruction, and physical fitness standards that must be met before graduating.

Physical Fitness Test

The physical fitness standards that must be met depend on age and gender at the time of testing that will involve sit-ups, push-ups and a 1.5 mile run.

Male candidates below the age of 29 will have to complete 40 sit-ups and 33 push-ups in one minute and complete the run in 11:58. Female candidates must complete 35 push-ups and 18 sit-ups in one minute and finish the run in 14:15.

Requirements & Qualifications

To find a job first, try this site to get a list of police agencies who are hiring in Ohio. Once you locate one you’ll have to meet some basic requirements to be hired, including:

• A high school diploma or GED.

• Be at least 20 years old when applying, and at least 21 years old at the time of appointment.

• Have a valid Ohio driver’s license

The Application/Hiring Process

You’ll find, as is generally the case with all police agencies, that they are looking for safe drivers and will check your driving history, and good credit, good moral character and a satisfactory employment history. These will be verified through an extensive background check.

The verification process generally may include a polygraph examination, and a review of family history, employment and any military service. In addition to the above, agency will be looking for any gambling, criminal activity, substance abuse.

These minimum requirements are mandated by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission and a lot more information about becoming a police officer in the state can be found on its website at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/opotc.

Average Police Officer Salary in Ohio

According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics (2010), a police officer in the state of Ohio make between $49,250 – $54,140 per year. However the data collected by BLS is not very accurate because it does not record overtime pay or off duty work. These two factors, if included in the data, would increase the average salary of a police officer in OH.

Police Officer Jobs in OH

There are several law enforcement job openings in Ohio. Simply visit our Career Job Opening or go to the official website of the agency you are interested in to complete an application of employment. Below is a list of all the law enforcement agencies in the state of Ohio.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper/Cadet Candidate Applicant Process*

*The information below may be outdated so make sure to visit the police agency that you are interested in working for.

Your application for the position of Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper or Cadet Candidate is the first step in the employment process.

How to apply
If you have a valid driver’s license and have graduated from high school or can show satisfactory completion of the G.E.D., contact your nearest Highway Patrol post during open recruiting (April 1 through July 31, 2000). A Patrol officer will talk to you, answer your questions, and provide you with an application.

Note: No applications are provided or accepted via e-mail.

In the future, you will be expected to successfully complete a series of assessments and to pass a thorough screening process. You will be notified of dates, times, and locations where you must appear to fulfill these requirements.

A detailed explanation of these assessments and the screening procedures is included below.

You will be given notice of your acceptance or rejection for training as soon as possible after completion of the application process.

I. Written Examination:

The entrance examination is a three part test which will evaluate your:

• Decision making skills
• Ability to read and comprehend information
• Ability to use information

Applicants will normally be notified of their examination results by mail. The number of applicants processed further will be based on test score and the number of applicants needed to fill a training class.

Applicants who test but are not selected for processing and training within the following year must retest in order to remain eligible for future classes. You may schedule for retesting by contacting your nearest Highway Patrol facility or The Recruitment & Minority Relations Office at 740 East 17th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43211-2474, Phone: 614/466-6019.

The selection of Cadet Candidates will be separate from the main applicant pool and will be based on operational need.

Applicants must successfully complete each phase of the processing before progressing to the next step.

II. Preliminary Physical Screening:

On the same day as testing, applicants will be screened to ensure they meet the height/weight and vision standards of The Highway Patrol. An applicant’s height must be in proportion to their weight according to established standards. Body composition (percent of body fat) is also taken into consideration.

Visual acuity and color vision will be screened. These standards are explained under stage VIII, “medical examination.” Applicants not meeting these standards will not be processed further until they come within compliance.

Ill. Preliminary Qualification Appraisal:

Applicants who pass preliminary physical screening and are selected for processing will be requested to undergo a pre-employment polygraph examination to determine their preliminary qualifications for employment.

Questions asked during this examination will be taken from a questionnaire completed by the applicant. Refusal to take the polygraph examination when requested will result in the rejection of your application.

IV. Initial Screening Committee Review:

The completed pre-employment questionnaire and polygraph report are furnished to a Screening Committee which will review the information and make an initial determination as to your suitability to proceed in the application process. You will be informed by letter within 30 days of the committee’s decision.

V. Conditional Offer of Employment:

Upon approval by the Screening Committee at the initial review, you will be given a conditional offer of employment. You must acknowledge the conditions set forth in the offer prior to progressing to the background investigation phase.

X. Psychological Assessment:

Each applicant will be required to take a battery of psychological tests which will last approximately two hours. These tests will be evaluated by a licensed psychologist.

XII. Psychological Assessment Interview:

Each applicant will be scheduled to participate in a personal interview with a licensed psychologist to discuss the results of the previous examinations. This interview will last approximately one hour.

XIII. Final Screening Committee Evaluation:

Following the completion of the first 13 phases of the selection process, the entire application will be returned to the Screening Committee for their final determination as to your suitability for employment. The entire selection process generally takes from six to twelve weeks.

Applicants will be informed by letter of the committee’s final decision.

Note: After the final ranking, those who are not selected for training due to a lack of available positions in an academy class, may:

be placed on “standby” and inserted into the class should a trainee exit the academy within the first week of training;
if a need exists, be offered a Cadet Candidate position until a future class begins; or
be required to reapply for written testing.
Candidates who are accepted into Cadet Candidate positions will not need to reapply in order to be considered for a future training class, but will be required to maintain established physical and academic standards.
Those candidates who are not immediately placed as either a Cadet Trainee or Cadet Candidate will be required to reapply for written testing in order to compete for a future class.

Written Notification

Applicants who fail to successfully complete any phase of the selection process will be notified, in writing, of the specific reason within 30 calendar days following the completion of that phase. If you have any questions you may contact your nearest Patrol facility or the Recruitment Section at 740 E. 17th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43211-2474, (614) 466-6019.