CRJS 3777 - Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 02, CRN 42930,
Credit hours: 12
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Keith Thorn
Professional Qualifications:
OPOTA Certified Instructor and more than 10 years of experience as Police Academy Commander
Commander Thorn
Email: mkthornjr@ysu.edu
Office: Steubenville Room 1207
Office Phone: 330-383-9235
Preferred Contact Method: Email at mkthornjr@ysu.edu
Communication Expectations:
I will respond to emails and phone messages within 1-2 business days.
How to Refer to me:
Commander Thorn
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Course Description
3777. Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training. The Ohio Attorney General's Office, Peace Officer Training Academy's requirements for peace/police officers are taught in the academy. The training academy at YSU consists of approximately 740 classroom hours (5 days a week, 8 hours a day for 15 weeks, plus a minimum of three weekends). Upon completion, students receive eligibility from the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission for certification if they successfully pass the physical, skills, and written exams. Prereq.: Permission from the Police Academy Commander. 8-18 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | OPOTA Materials | OPOTA | NA |
Materials are supplied to the student on the first day of class in-person.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Fall 2026 Police Academy at YSU Steubenville Tentative Schedule
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Introduction to basic training and policing, ethics, professionalism, diversity, CJ system, physical fitness, photography, traffic, basic communication, legal basics, lineups, use of force, conditioning, civil liability, arrest, search, seizure, OHLEG, tracing stolen property, subject control techniques, interview, interrogation, and companion animal encounters | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 8/31 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Subject control techniques, arrest search & seizure, interpersonal communication, and mediation communication | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 9/7 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness and conditioning, subject control techniques, arrest search & seizure, domestic violence, and crimes against persons | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 9/14 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, arrest search & seizure, domestic violence, stops & approaches, and bombs & explosives | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 9/21 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, report writing, arrest search & seizure, crimes against property, and driving | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 9/28 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, driving, firearms, crimes against persons, missing persons & human trafficking | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 10/5 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, and firearms | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 10/12 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, driving, juvenile justice system, gambling, patrol aspects, and traffic crash investigation | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 10/19 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, and traffic crash investigation | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 10/26 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, below 100, building searches, active shooter/threat response, critical injury first aid, and child abuse & neglect | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 11/2 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, crime scene, digital evidence, offenses against administration of safety & justice, and other offensess | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 11/9 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, standardized field sobriety testing, and live drinking | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 11/16 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, impact weapons, and civil disorders | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 11/23 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, LEADS, crisis mitigation, and ICAT | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 11/30 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, testifying in court, surveillance, vehicle theft & identification, motor vehicle offenses, incident debrief training, and drug awareness | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
| 12/7 | Ohio Criminal Law Handbook and YSU Academy Packet | Physical fitness & conditioning, subject control techniques, crisis intervention, human trafficking, interacting with the media, responding to victims' needs & rights, uniform traffic ticket, hazmat & WMD awareness, and terrorism awareness | Read the assigned readings as provided in-class and in the YSU Academy Packet |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.