On Monday, December 18, 2023, the Pickaway Co. Sheriff’s Office rolled onto the Eastland Career Center campus with three retired cruisers to donate toward the EFCTS Basic Police Officer Training program.
The cadets of the Basic Police Officer Training (BPOT) program at Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools will have their experience enhanced after receiving three retired cruisers to add to its fleet of vehicles.
The cruisers, one sport utility vehicle and two sedans, were donated by Chief Deputy James A. Brown, Jr. and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, December 18, 2023. Chief Deputy Brown and three Pickaway Co. deputies arrived on the Eastland Career Center campus, home of the Eastland-Fairfield BPOT adult program, to formally donate the vehicles. They were warmly welcomed by the cadets of the 116th Eastland Police Academy and students from the high school’s Criminal Justice program.
“We are grateful for the donations from the Pickaway County Commissioners, the Pickaway County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Hafey, and Chief Brown,” said Eastland Police Academy Commander Tim Voris. “They see, firsthand, that the deputies they hire from our program are prepared and ready to protect and serve in their community.”
The donation of these vehicles by the Pickaway Co. Sheriff’s Office will now allow Eastland-Fairfield cadets to train with a variety of vehicles and will also help train students in the high school Criminal Justice programs at Eastland and Fairfield Career Centers.
Voris continued, “By acquiring these street-tested cruisers, all Eastland-Fairfield students can utilize them to train, perform stops and approaches, and conduct driving and speed measuring device classes."
The sport utility vehicle that is part of the recent donation adds a new flare to the BPOT fleet. It will allow cadets the opportunity to train in a style of vehicle that has become more popular in recent years, especially in rural areas.
“On behalf of our students and staff, we are all very grateful to the Pickaway County Sheriff's Office for their generosity and support of our cadets and students,” said Todd Hoffman, director of Eastland-Fairfield Adult Workforce Development. “Not only do these vehicles add to our program's toolbox that helps train and prepare our future police officers but it also reaffirms Eastland-Fairfield's strong partnerships with local and state law enforcement agencies for the betterment of our students and communities.”
The BPOT vehicle fleet has rapidly expanded following additional donations in recent years by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Baltimore Police Department, and Buckeye Honda.
“The Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office is committed to the future of law enforcement,” said Chief Deputy James A. Brown. “The law enforcement industry is very competitive. Regardless of where the Eastland-Fairfield cadets go and what community they serve, these additional tools ensure that they will have the best opportunities for training and be better prepared to serve our communities.”
The Basic Police Officer Training program is offered at Eastland Career Center to adults aged 21 or over. The program follows OPOTA standards with a curriculum set forth by OPOTC. For more information about the BPOT program or to schedule your tour of the facility, visit www.EastlandFairfield.com/bpot.