Mission: “to protect life and property, promote traffic safety and provide professional public safety service with respect, compassion and unbiased professionalism…”
Name and location of this police department
- Ohio State Highway Patrol;
- Strategic Services Section;
- 1970 West Broad Street;
- Columbus, OH 43223.
Ohio State highway Patrol is located on this address and it’s a at the state level of enforcement. Patrol General Headquarters is located in Columbus.
Police department’s organization: Area
The department is divided into 10 districts as follows:
- 7 districts have 6 posts;
- 2 districts has 5 posts;
- 1 district- Ohio Turnpike has 3 posts;
- The administrative offices are at Cleveland with Berea as the headquarters.
Police department’s organization: Personnel
- The department comprises 1,400 officers with 1,000 support personnel who include:
- Driver Examiners.
- Load limit inspectors.
- Motor vehicle inspectors.
- Electronics technicians.
- Civilian specialists.
- Motor carrier enforcement.
- Dispatchers.
The 1,400 officer are uniformed complement of the Patrol.
Diversity of the police department: Gender
Men make up 91% of the total Ohio State Highway Patrol with women making up a paltry 9%. Thus there are about 216 women in the department compared to 2,184 men.
Diversity of the police department: Race
The Ohio State Highway Patrol, is dominated by whites who make up 86% of the departments population. African Americans make up 11% followed by the Hispanics who make up 3% of the approximately 2,400 personnel.
Goals and objectives of Ohio State Highway Patrol police department
- Statewide traffic services to ensure roadways safety;
- Statewide emergency response services and support services to the public and the criminal justice community;
- Investigation of criminal activities on state-owned and leased property throughout Ohio, and;
- Security for the Governor and other dignitaries.
“… Ohio State Highway Patrol is an internationally accredited agency whose mission is to protect life and property, promote traffic safety and provide professional public safety services with respect, compassion, and unbiased professionalism”.
Specific Law Contravened
“R.C. 2921.36(A)(2) prohibits any person from knowingly conveying, or attempting to convey, onto the grounds of a “detention facility” or of an institution that is under the control of the Department of Mental Health (DMH) or the Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (DMR/DD) any “drug of abuse””.
Constitutional amendment that influenced police actions
- Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers arrested Margaret Walsh, 48, while attempting to smuggle in drugs into the Lebanon Correctional Institution.
- Walsh was arrested for a 3rd degree felony; “attempting to convey drugs into a detention facility” in violation of R.C. 2921.36(A)(2) which prohibits any person from knowingly conveying, or attempting to convey, onto the grounds of a “detention facility“.
- She was also arrested for a 5th degree felony; “Possession of criminal tools”. in violation of R.C. 2923.24(A)(C) of possession of criminal tools, a fifth degree felony.
The troopers were exercising the mandate given to them to by the constitution to arrest any person (s) who is in contravention of the law.
Unethical behavior in the Ohio Police department
“Troopers at Canton Highway Patrol post accused of cheating” .
Summary:
- The troopers cheated on the breath tests made on drunken drivers.
- According to the Ohio Inspector General this was done by falsifying exams taken by copying from examination already taken a while ago. These tests were also shared with other troopers.
- Most of the allegations were from the Canton post which involved sergeants.
- Two troopers were punished by demotion, 12 were recommended for termination and 3 were reprimanded.
Measures to Curb Cheating
- Inculcate discipline and commitment through regular training.
- Put strict structures of accountability.
- Reward commitment and handwork.
- Create enabling environment conducive for the troopers.
- Create a comprehensive communication channel.
Cheating in the police force is a sure sign that there is lack of ownership on the part of the troopers. Training and development one of the most important ways of dealing with this problem. Punishments should be a measure that should be taken as the last resort when everything else has failed.
Policing approach of Ohio State Highway Patrol
- LifeStat 1.0, is a new approach that the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is adopting a traffic safety programs. It involves:
- The Provision of information “that guides the effective assignment of traffic enforcement resources as well as the mechanism to ensure communication among personnel” (Weiss et al).
- The safety program has 5 components which encompass the delivery of public safety 24/7.
LifeStat 1.0 is an approach established by the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) and the NYPD’s CompStat program is its model.
Police department’s relationship with the community
The Philosophy which the Ohio State:
- Highway Patrol (OSHP) identifies itself with is guided by its mission of reducing serious “traffic crashes and apprehend the criminal element through high-visibility, aggressive traffic enforcement and increased public awareness through the use of the media”.
The philosophy that guides this department is its availability every time everyday of the year, this is guided by the LifeStat: The 24/7 Initiative.
Crime prevention programs
LifeStat: The 24/7 Initiative can be classified as a classic example of a very successful program that aims to reduce serious traffic and arrest criminal elements by using the media to create visibility and aggressive traffic enforcement and heightened public awareness.
The initiative that the department has come up with has greatly helped to assure the general public of their safety that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.
Effectiveness of this crime prevention program
LifeStat: The 24/7 Initiative program in 2006 led to the reduction of fatal crashes to an all time low by 6%, the highest reduction in 70 years.
The program has considerably reduced the number of fatal crashes and in 2006 alone this figure reduced by 6%. An impressive reduction especially bearing the trooper per population, the number of registered vehicles and miles traveled, where Ohio is ranked last.
References
Troopers at Canton Highway Patrol post accused of cheating, might lose jobs. Web.
Alexander Weiss, Director, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, Evanston,Illinois; and Colonel Kenneth Morckel, Ohio State Highway Patrol (retired)Senior Advisor, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety: Strategic and Tactical Approaches to Traffic Safety. Web.
Ohio State Highway Patrol. Web.
Ohio State Highway Patrol. Web.