SHELBY — Michael Napier, Brett Neuenschwander, Tony Grimwood and Jon Fletcher had something else in common before becoming became leaders in local law enforcement.
They all trained at North Central State College’s Police Academy under Brad Copeland.
Copeland has taught at the college since 2000. He’s been the commander since 2017.
“I’ve taught in over 50 police academies (cohorts),” Copeland said. “I’ve had the privilege and the honor to work with a lot of folks.”
Today, Napier is an assistant chief with the Mansfield Police Department. Grimwood is a lieutenant with the Ontario Police Department. Neuenschwander is a lieutenant with the Lexington Police Department. Fletcher is the chief of the Bellville Police Department.
All four of them were in the crowd Thursday when their alma mater received its official STAR Academy designation.
The STAR designation was created in 2021 by the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.
Richard Butsko, assistant executive director of Ohio Police Officer Training Academy, said less than half of Ohio’s police academies have designated STAR status.
“Being a STAR Academy means not just meeting, but exceeding Ohio’s highest peace officer training standards,” Butsko said.
“It reflects the academy’s commitment to providing cadets with more than just the required minimum training hours.”
To achieve a STAR designation, the academy underwent a rigorous review of its policies and methods by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA).
NCSC’s program had to meet several criteria to qualify, including a minimum pass rate of 85 percent for cadets on the state certification exam. Other requirements included regular instructor evaluations by cadets and a minimum of 15 hours’ training in “high risk topics” like crisis intervention, building searches and search and seizure.
NSCS’s program also goes beyond mandatory training requirements with units on community relations, financial wellness, officer wellness and résumé building.
“OPOTA currently requires that police academies do 740 hours. We currently do 810,” Copeland said.
“I’m very proud of my instructors. It’s not about me. It’s about our program. I am very, very blessed to have a great group of people to work with.”
Copeland said the academy has between 20 and 24 instructors, all full-time law enforcement officers, who rotate in and out based on their availability.
He considers the variety of instructors an asset to the program.
“OPOTA requires that we use at least 10 different instructors for our academy. I always use at least 20,” he said.
“We have folks from state agencies, local agencies, so what we get is a broadranging overview. The cadets get to see not only small departments, but large departments.”
STAR designations are valid for three years. Copeland said academies can reapply to maintain the designation.
NCSC President Dorey Diab said the certification is a testament to the hard work of the academy’s faculty and staff.
“We’re proud of the public service that we all provide,” Diab said. “We have a great community here. It’s about the partnership and making things happen.”