COLUMBUS, Ohio — Today, Governor Mike DeWine announced the accreditation of 10 Ohio law enforcement agencies, the first to complete the new Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. This program was initiated by Governor DeWine last year to highlight agencies that voluntarily adhere to nearly three dozen state standards covering a range of core responsibilities including professional conduct, bias-free policing, crisis intervention, and community engagement.
The agencies honored with this new accreditation include the Dayton Police Department, Dublin Police Department, Fairborn Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Stark County Sheriff’s Office, University of Toledo Police Department, and Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office.
“The law enforcement agencies achieving accreditation today have reached the state’s highest standards in professional excellence, integrity, and accountability,” Governor DeWine stated. “Accreditation is important because it sends a message to the public that they’re being served by an agency that’s among the best of the best.”
These leading agencies volunteered last year to pursue this distinction as part of the inaugural group under the program, which is unique as the only state-administered accreditation program in the nation that offers free participation to law enforcement agencies.
Administered by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board, the program approved these accreditations at its regular meeting yesterday. The board also introduced a new standard focused on ballistic evidence testing.
“This new standard will save lives by requiring accredited Ohio law enforcement agencies to submit all firearms and fired cartridge casings recovered or seized in connection with a criminal investigation to be analyzed and entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network and National Tracing Center eTrace system,” explained Andy Wilson, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. “This information sharing and cooperation will help agencies close cases and bring justice for victims and their families.”
Agencies seeking accreditation can access more details and support through the program’s website. This initiative builds on the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Certification Program, which has already certified over 600 agencies on best practices related to use of force and recruitment. Standards from this certification are mandatory for accreditation.
Established in 2015, the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board aims to foster stronger public trust in law enforcement, working alongside the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services and consulting with state law enforcement associations.