In the wake of several high-profile incidents involving police-involved deaths, Ohio politicians have called for improved law enforcement training as a vital solution. But despite substantial enhancements in continuing education requirements for police officers, Ohio has struggled to establish a stable funding mechanism for such training, according to officials.
Currently, funding allocation is subject to biennial determinations by legislators, leading to situations where officers are not mandated to undergo training due to funding shortages. This shortfall was particularly evident between 2017 and 2022, when there was no state funding for mandatory ongoing professional training for law enforcement personnel, according to a 2022 report by a bipartisan commission created by legislators to study the matter.
Although the current state budget has allocated $40 million for police training over the next two years, the future remains uncertain regarding funding continuity in upcoming budgets.
Governor Mike DeWine recently expressed his intention to collaborate with state lawmakers in establishing a lasting financing solution for police training in Ohio. One potential approach proposed by DeWine involves imposing a new surcharge on insurance policies. However, the feasibility of such a proposal and its acceptance by tax-conscious Republicans, who hold the majority in the Ohio General Assembly, is another question.
In the meantime, the bipartisan report has emphasized the urgent need for a permanent funding source for police training in Ohio. This notion gained support from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including top state officials, police unions and community groups.
Presently, officers across approximately 900 law enforcement agencies in Ohio are required to undergo a minimum of 24 hours of annual continuing training. This marks a significant increase from the previous minimum of four hours in 2016. The training curriculum encompasses various topics pivotal to improving interactions between law enforcement and their communities, including conflict de-escalation techniques and community relations. Among the mandated 24 hours, eight hours are dedicated to instruction in areas such as school safety, legal updates and arrest procedures.
The deficiency in funding for training disproportionately affects smaller police departments in the state, the report found.
“Training programs (especially in smaller jurisdictions) are typically one of the items on the ‘chopping block’ when municipal budgets are tightened,” the findings stated.
Unlike larger police forces and the state highway patrol, which conduct their training through dedicated academies, smaller departments often resort to private training centers due to budgetary constraints.
Notably, training programs are susceptible to budget cuts, especially during times of financial strain, as highlighted by the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The creation of a permanent funding mechanism for police training in Ohio is expected to yield various benefits, as outlined in the commission’s report. These advantages encompass heightened professionalism, enhanced competitiveness with other states, increased opportunities to train officers in essential “soft skills” like addressing implicit bias and improved police-community relations.
DeWine and the commission have pointed to Kentucky’s funding model for police training as a potential blueprint for Ohio. Kentucky’s Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund, established in 1972, finances police training through a 1.8% surcharge on auto, homeowner and fire insurance premiums. Funds collected are used to reimburse police departments in the state for officer training expenses.
