SIDNEY — The Sidney Police Department is one of 20 law enforcement agencies which will receive a grant to help strengthen community-police relations. The grants, which total $400,000, were announced Monday by the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS).
“Ohio is becoming a national leader in its efforts to build stronger relationships between police and communities, and the interest we received in these new grants is proof of the willingness of law enforcement to reach out to the communities they serve,” said John Born, ODPS director and co-chair of the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board.
“We received the entire amount we were asking for — $29,940.17. Thirty thousand dollars was the maximum you could ask for,” said Sidney Police Chief Will Balling.
Balling said the money will be used to re-establish a Citizen Police Academy.
“We’ll hire a part-time program director (coordinator),” said Balling.
The coordinator will develop the program. Community members, along with a collaborative board, will provide feedback for developing the program, he said.
The Citizen Police Academy, said Balling, will be for individuals who want to learn more about law enforcement, the criminal justice system and what the officers do in the city of Sidney.
“The largest portion of the grant will be used to purchase a firearm simulator,” said Balling. “People will be able to go through simulated real life experiences dealing with people with guns, people with mental illness and people with knives.
“They will learn what the proper use of force is,” he said. “We also plan to open it (firearm simulator) to community groups.
“We want to build up a relationship with the community on why we do the things we do,” said Balling. “It’s easy to second guess after an incident happens.”
Balling is hoping to hold a Citizens Police Academy in the fall of 2016 and in the spring of 2017.
“Several community members wrote letters that helped us get the grant,” said Balling. “I really appreciate their support.”
Balling said he will be working the the city’s human resource department for the job description of the coordinator.
“We would like to get someone who can relate to the audience they will be working with,” said Balling. “We’d like someone who has experience with a community-type of program.”
The only other local police department to receive the award was the Piqua Police Department.
Examples of programs awarded include: community-policing initiatives; training; juvenile-mentoring programs; education and awareness tools; and evidence-based policing strategies.
All agencies receiving grants have agreed to become certified through the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Agency Certification through the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board. Within the first few months of the certification process, more than 100 Ohio law enforcement agencies have applied and are now undergoing review to fully adopt and implement the new state standards recently established by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board. To date, 24 agencies, which includes the Sidney Police Department, have been provisionally or fully certified.
