(North Canton, OH – April 28, 2022) – Stark State College’s Law Enforcement Academy recently was recognized by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost as a program that goes the extra mile to instill excellence in its students.

The STAR Academy Training Center program, designed by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, sets criteria that have been identified as factors in high-quality training. The designation creates a professional standard and an incentive for excellence among Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission-approved basic academies and demonstrates the belief that raising the bar is essential in producing top cadets for the law enforcement agencies that employ them and the communities they serve.

“We are proud to provide a high-quality OPOTA (Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy) for individuals in the region interested in pursuing rewarding careers in law enforcement, and we are very proud to be among a few excellent OPOTA programs in Ohio to receive the prestigious STAR award, said Para M. Jones, Ph.D., Stark State College president. “It was a distinct honor to have Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, the state’s ‘top law enforcement officer,’ present the STAR award in person to OPOTA Program Commander Jerry Snay, our students and instructors. It was a memorable occasion for Stark State College, and all of us present benefited from the Attorney General’s message about the value and importance of law enforcement in the state of Ohio.”

Qualification for the designation include both mandatory and optional criteria, such as periodic academic assessments, written discipline policy, instructor evaluations, certification exam pass rates, number of instructors and cadet skills that include communication, community relations, de-escalation, officer wellness and additional certifications.