NEW DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES ANNOUNCED
A message from the Director of Public Safety - Thomas Stickrath
I am pleased to announce that Nicole Dehner has been named executive director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS). Nicole replaces Karhlton Moore, who was appointed director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the U.S. Department of Justice.
Nicole should be familiar to some of you as she served as chief policy adviser at OCJS for three years from 2009 to 2012.
Nicole brings a wealth of experience that will serve OCJS well. At various points in her career, Nicole has coordinated services for crime victims, and has worked closely with local law enforcement. Previously, she was an in-house attorney within ODPS for OCJS and the Ohio Investigative Unit. She was also the first director of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office of Crimes Against Children Unit. Most recently, Nicole served as chief legal counsel for the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
While we are excited to bring someone of Nicole’s background and experience to OCJS, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Karhlton. For over 16 years he has been dedicated to improving community/police relations, funding evidence-based violence reduction strategies to fight crime, and distributing grant funds with integrity. He is leaving behind a lasting legacy through his hard work, leadership, and staff development. Thank you Karhlton, OCJS reached even greater heights under your guidance.
And welcome back to DPS Nicole. We look forward to working with you again as you begin your new role on Monday, February 28.
Take care,
Tom Stickrath
2022 LAW ENFORCEMENT DRUG SUMMIT
The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center is proud to announce the 2022 Law Enforcement Drug Summit, being held virtually on March 2, 2022. This free event will provide an opportunity for law enforcement, prosecutors, intelligence analysts, crime lab and other criminal justice personnel to share best practices, training, and resources with criminal justice stakeholders across the state.
Summit presentations and training opportunities will include experts in criminal intelligence, crime labs, drug interdiction, and task force operations. The schedule is packed with experts from across the state of Ohio as well as national and international speakers including topics on fentanyl/counterfeit pills, oral fluids, increasing firearm/drug case connections, intelligence capabilities, interdiction methods, and task force best practices. Attendees will have the chance to learn and connect with criminal justice professionals in their field in Ohio, surrounding states, and beyond. No matter the background or skill level, attendees will walk away from the Summit with interesting perspectives and case studies that will challenge assumptions and grow your understanding of the illicit drug environment.
The ONIC welcomes anyone working in law enforcement agencies, intelligence units, crime labs, drug task forces, the judicial system, and other criminal justice professions to attend the conference. Credentials will be verified at registration. We strongly encourage that you attend the event live to take advantage of the question and answer sessions with the subject matter experts; however, if you are unable to attend the day of, all of the presentations will be available for 90 days after the event in an on-demand format but only if you register beforehand.
Each year, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated with city parades, funny leprechaun hats, and plenty of green beer. Unfortunately, it often ends with risky drunk drivers taking to the streets when the parties end. Drunk driving accounts for nearly one-third of vehicle-related fatalities in the United States.
This St. Patrick’s Day, please remember that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. If you plan to go out and enjoy the evening with alcohol, make sure you refrain from driving. Review these facts and share the word about the dangers of drunk driving so you can continue merry-making for all the St. Paddy’s Days to come.
Click here to view campaign materials for St. Patrick's Day.
APRIL IS NATIONAL DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH.
"U Drive. U Text. U Pay." National High Visibility Enforcement Mobilization: April 4-11, 2022
Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing safety issues on the roads today. Distracted drivers aren’t just a threat to themselves; they are a danger to everyone else on the road. The national distracted driving effort focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness, and education.
Click here to view campaign materials for this year's National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has partnered with The Ohio State University – John Glenn College of Public Affairs to offer innovative training, titled, the “Public Safety Leadership Academy,” to qualified police executives at the Highway Patrol Training Academy on March 28, through June 10, 2022.
The course which will focus on:
Developing leadership and management skills;
Understanding leadership styles through self-assessments;
Sharpening problem solving and planning skills;
Improving communication skills, including verbal and non-verbal communication in one-on-one and group settings, formal presentations and written communication;
Developing conceptual and research skills; and
Developing and improving the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and direct any division within a law enforcement agency.
The program is designed so that participants will be able to develop and improve the skills necessary to manage and direct any division within a law enforcement agency. This year's class will get a head start on applying those skills by producing a capstone project that will address a current need in their agency.
Students who successfully complete the program will receive 10 graduate or undergraduate semester hours of academic credit through The Ohio State University - John Glenn College of Public Affairs.
Specific requirements and entry into the graduate or undergraduate degree programs depends on the student's academic experience.
For additional instruction focusing on leadership, students will visit Washington D.C. during National Police Week.
Your agency is invited to nominate an executive officer to attend this course. The following materials; the course application form, and course nomination form, need to be submitted to Tanya Benner by Feb. 28, 2022, at tbenner@dps.ohio.gov. The forms can be found on the Patrol’s Training website at https://www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/training.aspx#gsc.tab=0
TRAFFIC SAFETY RESOURCE PROSECUTORS VIDEO TRAINING SERIES
RECENT VIDEO
COMBATING ALCOHOL AND DRUG - IMPAIRED DRIVING (IIHS), to view this video click here.
PREVIOUS VIDEOS
TO MEET THE TSRP'S AND LEARN WHAT TRAINING IS AVAILABLE TO LAW ENFORMCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS, click here.
TRAFFIC SAFETY CASE LAW UPDATE FOR 2020 - to view this video click here.
OHIO INTOXILYZER 8000 FOR PROSECUTORS - to view click here.
Stay tuned to future issues of TrafficWise as new videos are released.
WEBINAR SERIES
MARCH TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: The Evolution of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Time: 2-3 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Kyle Clark, DECP National Project Manager - IACP
Description: Much has changed since the introduction of the “Improved Sobriety Test Battery” in 1984. During this presentation, Drug Evaluation and Classification Program National Project Manager Kyle Clark will review the history of the changes and improvements made to the SFST program over the past 35 years. Background information will also be shared to enlighten prosecutors and law enforcement officers on the reasoning behind some of the changes that have served to enhance the accuracies of the three standardized field sobriety tests over the years so that they can better explain these important tests in court on a DUI case.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for complete information and registration information.
APRIL TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: CDLs & Impaired Driving: Examining the Regulations, the Licensing Requirements and the Consequences
Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Time: 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Aaron Ann Cole-Funfsinn, Staff Attorney - National Traffic Law Center
Description: CDL holders have the privilege of operating 80,000 pound vehicles, and with that privilege comes greater training, licensing expectations and responsibility. This webinar will analyze the rules and regulations about CDL operators and impaired driving and the legal, as well as the often deadly practical, consequences of what happens when a CDL driver chooses to operate a vehicle while impaired.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for complete information and registration information.
MAY TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: Finding The Story & Presenting the Case for Impaired Driving in CMV & Personal Vehicle Crash Cases
Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Time: 2:00p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Aaron Ann Cole-Funfsinn, Staff Attorney - National Traffic Law Center
Tom Lockridge - Kentucky TSRP
Description: The opening statement at a jury trial is a prosecutor’s first opportunity to “tell the story”. It is especially important in impaired driving cases to communicate the urgency of the facts and the serious consequences of the driver’s actions to the jury. In this webinar, Kentucky TSRP Tom Lockridge and NDAA NTLC Staff Attorney Aaron Ann Cole-Funfsinn will create a road map for you to build a compelling opening statement in CDL- and personal vehicle- impaired driving and crash cases to help you tell a powerful and persuasive story to the jury.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for complete information and registration information.
JUNE TRAFFIC TUESDAY WEBINAR
Title: Constitutional Law Issues in Impaired Driving Cases
Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Time: 2:00p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Ken Stecker - Michigan TSRP
Description: In the recent past, the United States Supreme Court (USSC) has issued several opinions directly impacting impaired driving investigations and prosecutions. This webinar will provide an overview of some of the many constitutional issues impacting traffic cases from the law enforcement officer’s observations of a vehicle in motion through a defendant’s trial. It is designed to review United States Supreme Court cases that impact the prosecution of impaired driving cases generally, as well as cases that have addressed impaired driving issues specifically.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but you must register in advance. Click here for complete information and registration information.
TWO OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
WHEN: May 13, 2022 (9:00 am- 4:00 pm)
WHERE: Owens Community College, Heritage Hall, Rooms 123 A & B, 310 2nd Street, Perrysburg, OH 43551
WHO: Municipal and County Prosecutors and Law Enforcement
OR
WHEN: June 17, 2022 (9:00 am- 4:00 pm)
WHERE: Geauga County Sheriff's Office, 12450 Merritt Road, Chardon 44024
WHO: Municipal and County Prosecutors and Law Enforcement
HOW: This course is being hosted by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office/ Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor/ Ohio Drug Evaluation and Classification program, and Owens Community College Center for Emergency Preparedness. Funding is provided in part or solely by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:Prosecuting the Drugged Driver is a course designed to provide prosecutors and law enforcement officers with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully investigate and prosecute drug impaired driving cases. The course is designed to encourage a team building approach between prosecutors and officers to aid in the detection, apprehension, and prosecution of drug impaired drivers. Attendees will participate in interactive sessions taught by a multidisciplinary faculty. Topics will include: signs & symptoms of drug impairment including identifying causes and prevention of addiction, drug impairment detection, and treatment alternatives, the Drug Recognition Expert (D.R.E.) process, the role of the toxicologist, effectively litigating and presenting a DUID case at trial, qualifying the DRE as an expert in court, and responding to common defense challenges in DUID cases.
The joint training approach allows all the involved disciplines to learn from each other inside a classroom rather than outside a courtroom just minutes before trial. Each profession will learn firsthand the challenges and difficulties the others face in impaired driving cases. This allows for greater understanding on the part of police officers as to what evidence prosecutors must have in an impaired driving case. It also gives prosecutors the opportunity to learn what they can reasonably expect from officers at the arrest scene and to learn to ask more useful questions in the courtroom. Both prosecutors and officers will be able to learn firsthand from toxicologists about the proper use and limitations of breath, blood and urine tests.
There is no charge to attend this training, but you must register in advance.
For the May 13, 2022 class, click here for agenda and registration information.
For the June 17, 2022 class, click here for agenda and registration information.
Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) provides officers with general knowledge related to drug impaired driving and to promote the use of Drug Recognition Experts (DRE). Law enforcement officers will learn to observe, identify and articulate the signs of impairment related to drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both, in order to reduce the number of impaired driving crashes.
The ARIDE program stresses the importance of the signs and symptoms of the seven drug categories. Officers attending this course will receive an update/refresher of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFSTs) and must successfully pass an SFST proficiency evaluation. This training also promotes interaction with representatives from the state's prosecution community who are encouraged to attend. The instructors for this course are all Ohio DRE certified instructors.
Prerequisite: Law enforcement officers must have had training in SFST (previously ADAP). This course is funded through an OTSO/NHTSA grant and is free for sworn Ohio law enforcement officers and prosecutors only. Tuition for out-of-state officers is $250.
To view the upcoming classes and to register, click here.
Drug Recognition Expert Program
The Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program is a traffic safety program that focuses on the detection, apprehension and adjudication of drug-impaired drivers.
A DRE is a law enforcement officer highly trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than or in addition to alcohol.
For more information, upcoming training dates and how to apply for this free training, please view the DRE Application, School Information and upcoming classes by clicking here.
The largest gathering of highway safety professionals in the United States
Last year, an estimated 36,096 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. Lifesavers is recognized as the premiere conference to learn about the latest highway safety research, best practices, and cutting-edge initiatives; and to explore innovative technology and strategies used to combat risky driving behaviors and save lives. The Lifesavers Conference is also historically the world’s largest gathering of leaders and advocates in traffic safety. Now in its 40th year, the Lifesavers Conference will take place March 13-15, 2022 in Chicago.
The 2022 Lifesavers Conference will provide a national platform with 70 workshops in nine tracks, plenary sessions, peer exchange discussion groups, and an extensive exhibit hall. The Lifesavers Conference program is designed to engage federal, state and local government; law enforcement; public health; injury prevention; advocacy and non-profit organization professional in an exchange of ideas, strategies, and programs to reduce preventable injuries and deaths.
Don’t miss your opportunity to participate in the latest and greatest networking opportunity in traffic safety, highlighting research to practice efforts across the country!
Visit the 2022 LifeSavers Conference website by clicking here.
REMEMBER the OTSO offers materials for numerous traffic safety campaigns, including impaired driving, restraint usage, distracted driving, speeding and motorcycles. Utilizing the numerous materials found here can make an impact that will reach beyond your community. By raising public awareness YOU can help save lives. The order form can be found by clicking here.
