Ohio to Roll Out Updated Police Training Program for Officers

What to know

Ohio is rolling out a revamped Peace Officer Basic Training program next month, replacing 72 hours of outdated content with practical instruction in crisis response and communication.
The reform, based on a 2023 task force, includes new modules on active shooter response, tactical decision-making and incident debriefing to better prepare officers for modern challenges.
Modified fitness standards have already increased graduation rates, strengthening recruitment while maintaining readiness and public trust.

Ohio will implement the “most comprehensive” police training reform in decades with a new curriculum in July that emphasizes practical skills for today’s law enforcement, State Attorney General Dave Yost announced.

The updated Peace Officer Basic Training program will replace 72 hours of outdated coursework with training focused on critical modern policing needs, including active shooter response, crisis mitigation and de-escalation, and communication skills, Yost said Wednesday in a statement.

“We’re giving Ohio’s peace officers what they need to do their job — real-world tools and the training to handle the toughest calls,” Yost said. “This isn’t just reform — it’s a significant investment in the future of policing in Ohio.”

The attorney general’s office oversees the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission.

The changes stem from recommendations by a Blue-Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Police Training, which Yost commissioned in 2023. Training academies can begin implementing the new curriculum on July 1, with mandatory compliance required by January 1, 2026.

Currently, police cadets must complete at least 740 hours of training for certification. The task force determined some courses provided limited value to new officers’ basic education.

New training components include 44 hours of basic and interpersonal communications and mediation, 4 hours of incident debrief training, 8 hours of active shooter/threat response with duty to render aid, and 16 hours of critical decision-making, tactical breathing, crisis mitigation, and de-escalation.

The emphasis on communication and de-escalation reflects nationwide trends in police reform following high-profile incidents and community calls for improved officer-citizen interactions.

The reforms also address recruitment challenges through modified physical fitness standards. While entry requirements remain unchanged, cadets can now graduate by passing two of three fitness components (sit-ups, push-ups, 1.5-mile run) if they achieve at least 75% progress in the third area.

This fitness standard modification, implemented in May 2024, has already enabled 91 additional cadets to graduate who would have been disqualified under previous requirements.

“Updating Ohio’s standards ensures we align with today’s job demands—allowing us to strengthen the force, better reflect our communities, and increase the number of qualified officers on the streets without compromising integrity or readiness,” Yost said.

AI was used to in the drafting of this story.

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