CHILLICOTHE, OH — The Pickaway-Ross Adult Education Basic Peace Officer Academy, in partnership with Ohio University Chillicothe, has achieved the prestigious STAR Academy designation from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost visited the Adult Education campus on Friday, June 28, 2024, to present this award, recognizing the outstanding achievements of the inaugural academy.
Attorney General Yost, accompanied by members of his office, awarded the STAR Academy designation to Academy Commander Terri Mikesh. Commander Mikesh, instrumental in creating the initial criteria for the STAR program as part of the original committee, spoke on the significance of this honor and its impact on the academy.
“Achieving this award brings our efforts full circle,” Commander Mikesh remarked, highlighting the academy’s dedication to excellence in law enforcement training. “This designation validates our commitment to providing top-notch training.”
The STAR Training Center program aims to elevate police training quality across Ohio by encouraging academies to exceed basic standards. Recognized academies must meet both mandatory and supplemental criteria, including:
- An 85% pass rate for cadets eligible to sit for the state certification exam.
- An 85% pass rate at the 50th percentile or better for cadets attempting the final physical fitness assessment.
- More than 15 cumulative hours of training in high-risk topics such as crisis intervention, building searches, and search and seizure.
- Training for cadets on technological devices such as body cameras and drones.
The Pickaway-Ross academy has successfully met all these criteria, demonstrating its commitment to producing highly capable and well-prepared law enforcement officers.
Director of Adult Education Carrie Fife spoke at the ceremony about the academy’s impact and the efforts required to bring this vision to reality. “The success of our program is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and cadets,” Fife said.
Ohio University Chillicothe campus dean Roberta Milliken also attended, underscoring the vital partnership between Ohio University Chillicothe and Pickaway-Ross. Dean Milliken emphasized that this collaboration is what makes the program a true success and an asset to the community, praising Commander Mikesh for her leadership of the academy.
Pickaway-Ross CTC Superintendent Jonathan Davis added, “Being a career center, running service-minded programs is at the core of what we do. The STAR designation is a tremendous honor for our academy and reflects our commitment to training students who will serve our community with the highest standards.”
The ceremony took place at the Pickaway-Ross Chillicothe Campus, located at 1410 Industrial Drive. For more information about the designation or for interview requests, please contact Britany Greenwalt, Marketing Coordinator, at [contact information].
