Grant to support police training

FINDLAY — The Findlay Police Department has received a state grant to support officer training. The $14,844 grant from the Ohio Attorney General's Law Enforcement Continuing Professional Training Program will pay for outside training for officers. Council appropriated the funds earlier this month. In a letter to council, dated April 20, Police Chief James H. Mathias said the department uses the money to meet the state's annual training requirements for peace officers. Ohio mandates 24 hours of continuing professional training each year for peace officers, and the Attorney General's Office provides funding to help agencies meet those requirements. The statewide program reimburses departments for the cost of required training hours and allows agencies to use the money for approved outside instruction. The Attorney General's Office describes the program as a public safety investment intended to keep officers current on legal standards, high-risk situations and evolving best practices. Required topics set each year by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission include legal updates, use-of-force standards, crisis response and other high‑liability subjects. Statewide, the program supports 30,000 to 33,000 peace officers and troopers who must complete the training annually. The Attorney General's Office reimburses agencies for officers' salary costs while they attend required continuing professional training, and each year sets the number of reimbursable hours beyond the mandated 24. The General Assembly launched the modern funding model as a statewide pilot in 2022 and has continued to fund it to maintain consistent training across Ohio.