The Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment was established by Gov. DeWine to address the lack of quality officers in Ohio police departments, with Dr. Patrick Oliver appointed as lead consultant and director of the CLEPP program. The primary goal of the program is to help Ohio police departments recruit qualified candidates, with an emphasis on female and minority candidates who are underrepresented in the field. According to Oliver, many police departments struggle to find quality applicants, and it's even more challenging to find qualified minorities and women. The program is highly selective and rigorous, and students who successfully complete it are guaranteed a position as a law enforcement officer with any participating law enforcement agency that has a current vacancy. Currently, 10 law enforcement agencies in Ohio are participating in the program, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office, and Ohio State University Police Department. Cedarville University has three students enrolled in the program, and three recent graduates from the university have already secured law enforcement jobs through the program in 2022.
Three students from Cedarville University are currently enrolled in the CLEPP program, while three recent graduates in 2022 have already secured law enforcement jobs. Among them, Taylor Smart is in training to become a police officer with the Beavercreek Police Department, while Connor Swayne is participating in a 14-week officer's field training program with the Union County Sheriff's Department, having completed basic training with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy in Columbus. Smart attributes her interest in law enforcement to her Christian faith and desire to bring justice into the world, and is already making strides as a quality addition to the Beavercreek police force, driving the police vehicle and making calls.
Smart's current role was well-prepared for by a rigorous three-day-a-week workout program and comprehensive content offerings. Smart appreciated the CLEPP program's focus on difficult topics, such as mental health for police officers, and the workout requirements that helped her become physically capable for the job. As a result of completing several screening requirements early through the CLEPP program, including an interview, background check, polygraph, and psychological examination, Smart was able to complete Beavercreek Police Department's hiring process in less than a month instead of the typical 12 weeks. Jeff Fiorita, chief of police in Beavercreek, Ohio, praised Smart's fit and acclimation to the department, and expressed enthusiasm for partnering with the program to find good female and minority police candidates. The CLEPP program has already helped several candidates secure law enforcement positions, including Senior Will Geist from Springfield, Ohio, who plans to join a local law enforcement agency this summer.
