Edison State Community College’s Peace Officer Academy honored eight students with a graduation ceremony on December 17, 2024, following their successful completion of the 23-week program.
Students of the program met for six days each week, beginning on July 8, totaling over 750 hours of training. The Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) certifies the curriculum of the program, which covers all aspects of law enforcement training, including administration, firearms, subject control, and investigation.
“This is another exceptional class of cadets willing to serve and protect citizens. They’ll serve proudly and be an asset to any agency willing to give them the opportunity,” said Joseph Mahan, Basic Peace Officer Academy Commander. “I wish them the best and much success in their chosen profession of being a law enforcement officer.”
Academy students can continue their education at Edison State and earn an associate degree by taking classes on campus or online. Following successful completion of the police officer program, cadets are required to pass the state certification exam.
Edison State offered the first Basic Peace Officer Academy in 2003, and the class that completed academic requirements this fall was from the 49th academy. Throughout its history, the program has enrolled 761 students.
Of the total number of cadets who qualified to sit for the state certification exam and passed, 80.4% have been sworn in as law enforcement officers in Ohio, including 100% of cadets in the fall 2023 and spring 2024 academies. Edison State academy graduates represent 78 different police agencies in the state.
In the 2024 calendar year, 23 academy graduates were sworn in at agencies such as the Ansonia Police Department, Bowling Green State University, Covington Police Department, Darke County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Office, Miami County Sheriff’s Office, Miami Township Police Department, Minster Police Department, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Township Police Department, Piqua Police Department, Shelby County Sherriff’s Office, Sidney Police Department, Troy Police Department, Union City Police Department, and Versailles Police Department.
The next Peace Officer Academy application period will open by the end of April 2025 for the academy beginning July 7, 2025. For more information, contact Veronica French, Manager of Professional & Technical Programs, at vfrench@edisonohio.edu or 937.778.7865. Those interested in entering the academy must be 21 years of age and eligible to own a weapon.
Fall 2024 Peace Officer Academy students who completed credit hour requirements include Thomas Atwood of Sidney, Austin Grant of Gordon, Cassandra Hawkins of Sidney, Ethan Howell of Troy, Brandon Powell of Bradford, Hannah Riggs of Dayton, Jacob Schlesselman of Wapakoneta, and Weston Sease of Arcanum.
Photo: Back (L to R): Ethan Howell, Jacob Schlesselman, Commander Joseph Mahan, Weston Sease, Hannah Riggs; Front (L to R): Austin Grant, Thomas Atwood, Brandon Powell, Cassandra Hawkins.