CLEVELAND — Finding qualified police officers has been a problem for police departments across Ohio.

What You Need To Know

  • A new initiative involving Gov. Mike DeWine's office is designed to change police recruiting trends

  • The program will pair criminal justice students with law enforcement mentors who will help prepare them for a career in the field

  • Fairview Park Police Department is one of several that are taking part

Chief Paul Shepard remembers why he became a police officer. 

“Growing up, my family had friends that were police officers and from that, I saw how selfless they were, how hard they worked, they had service in their hearts,” explained Shepard.  

The Olmsted Falls native fell in love with the profession and applied to a lot of police departments decades ago. He eventually landed in Fairview Park. 

“And I was on the list for a couple other cities, and when I interviewed here, I spoke with the chief at the time, and just knowing the type of community it was, I knew this was the place I wanted to work, and I was fortunate enough they asked me to come work here,” he said. 

Now as police chief, his job involves many tasks behind the desk, but he still takes time to talk with fellow officers and is involved in his community.

But finding officers who love the profession like he does has been challenging.

“We’re also competing with every other agency in Ohio that is looking for new police officers. Some departments have resorted to lateral transfers, and that’s all well and good, but that still creates a vacuum,” said Shepard.  

Shepard is hoping to attract new officers through the Ohio Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment’s College to Law Enforcement Pathway Program. 

The program will pair criminal justice students with law enforcement mentors who will help prepare them for a career in the field. 

Shepard is confident this will help departments like his attract more qualified candidates. 

“This program's like an apprenticeship, so that you're not stealing from other police departments, you’re brining new, good, qualified candidates into the pool. And the more people that are familiar with what we do in law enforcement, the better that we’ll be and the better the profession will be,” he said. 

Shepard is hopeful more young people will take up the profession he calls the best job in the world. 

“The truth is that you’re not going to change the whole world, but you change little pieces at a time. This job gives us the opportunity to affect people on a day-to-da ybasis, both positively and negatively, and for the most part it is positive,” said Shepard. 

The state said the honors program will pilot at Cedarville University and Central State University during the upcoming fall semester. ​