A blue ribbon task force in the Ohio Attorney General's office announced recommended multidimensional changes for the future of statewide law enforcement training.
Formed in the fall of 2023, the task force was charged with identifying areas for improvement in basic and continuing peace officer training, determining recommended standards for new officers, outlining expectations for instructors and establishing new training methods.
Emily Ribnik, M.Ed., LPCC-S, CTMH, CGCS, director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence at NEOMED, represented mental health as one of 11 task force members, a diverse group of experts ranging from career law enforcement professionals to mental health experts and community leaders. The group met with hundreds of law enforcement agencies throughout the state and spent months fact-finding, researching, discussing, debating and seeking public comment.
Recommendations from the blue ribbon task force will next be presented to Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) for consideration of adoption, and to the legislature for their help in amending current statutes.