The Lakeland Community College Police Department recently completed the Ohio Collaborative certification process. There are currently four standards in which to be certified: Group 1-Use of force and recruitment hiring; Group 2-community engagement, body-worn cameras and telecommunicator training; Group 3-bias-free policing and investigation of employee misconduct; and Group 4-vehicular pursuit. Lakeland's Police Department was recertified in Group1 and received initial certification for Groups 2-4.

Recertification of the Ohio Collaborative standards takes place on a revolving, three to four-year cycle.

"We are committed to the highest policing standards in order to keep our campus safe for all of our students, staff and visitors," said Lakeland Police Chief Ron Morenz.

The standards are the first of their kind in Ohio and were developed and established by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board as part of the state's efforts to strengthen community and police relations.

There are 452 agencies employing over 28,088 officers (representing over 87% of all law enforcement officers in Ohio, including most of Ohio's metropolitan areas) that are certified, and 24 that are in the process of becoming certified by meeting standards for the use of force, including deadly force, and agency recruitment and hiring.

The state has partnered with the Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police to help certify Ohio's nearly 900 law enforcement agencies on a process to ensure that they comply with Ohio's new standards.

By: Jessica Novak