TRAINING

Continuing education and training is not only a requirement to maintain state certifications, but crucial for organizational development and success. Well-trained employees provide superior service and are more efficient and productive. To meet requirements established by the State of Ohio, each officer must complete a minimum of approximately 24 hours annually in police, fire, and EMS in-service education.

DOOR-TO-DOOR SOLICITING

Oakwood has a city ordinance addressing peddlers and solicitors. Among other things, the ordinance establishes limits on door-to-door activity and provides residential property owners with a means to prohibit certain types of door-to-door solicitation and canvassing. This can be accomplished by residents requesting that their property be included on the city’s “Do Not Solicit” list. To be added to the list, simply fill out and submit the form accessible from the city website at https://oakwoodohio.gov/door-to-door-solicitation/. There are nearly 1,700 Oakwood properties on this list, which is available on the city website and at the city building.

CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY

In 2024, the Oakwood Public Safety Department hosted its seventh Citizen Police Academy (CPA). The CPA consists of a ten-week curriculum that educates participants on the department’s functions. Classes meet one night per week for approximately two hours at the City Building, 30 Park Avenue.

Safety Department staff present a different subject each week to help students gain a greater understanding of modern policing and its challenges. Topics covered during the academy include Safety Department Orientation, Patrol Operations, Traffic Enforcement, Use of Force, Evidence Collection, and Fire Prevention/Education.

The CPA creates a unique opportunity for citizens to better understand the job of a Public Safety Officer and also serves as a way for Safety Department personnel to hear the community’s needs and expectations. The CPA is free of charge, and class size is limited to 12 students. Applicants must be Oakwood residents or employed in the City of Oakwood and must be at least 21 years of age. The 2025 CPA is scheduled to start September 3, 2025, and applications will be accepted beginning in early summer.

ACORN PROGRAM – ASSISTING AND CONTRIBUTING TO OAKWOOD RESIDENT NEEDS

The Oakwood Public Safety Department offers the Assisting and Contributing to Oakwood Resident Needs (ACORN) Program. The goal of the ACORN Program is to provide peace of mind through proactive community outreach, implementing safety plans, and advocating for the well-being of Oakwood’s senior and at-risk population. Additionally, the program is designed to assist residents in times of emergency and connect participants to existing services when needed.

Program benefits include:

• Periodic wellness visits from the Safety Department.
• Procedures for Oakwood Public Safety Officers to have secure access to your home in the event of an emergency.
• Preparation of medical information and emergency contact forms.
• Partnership with Wright Memorial Library Book Delivery Program.

The ACORN Program is free of charge and is intended for Oakwood residents who are 65 or older, living alone, and have limited contact with caregivers or family members. To enroll, contact the Safety Department at (937) 298-2122 and arrange for a home visit. Additional information, including the ACORN Enrollment Form, is available on the city website at www.oakwoodohio.gov/acorn-program.

BODY AND IN-CAR CAMERAS

The Safety Department utilizes in-car camera systems with fully integrated body cameras. Each Public Safety Officer is issued their own body camera, and each marked patrol vehicle is equipped with a forward and rear-facing camera system. The use of camera technology is an important component of modern policing and provides real-time documented recordings of encounters and interactions between Oakwood Public Safety Officers and all the people that we serve.

GOOD CHOICE TICKET PROGRAM

This program is designed to recognize Oakwood’s youth for making good choices, such as using a crosswalk, wearing a bicycle helmet, or looking both ways before crossing the street. The program has been very well received by the community and will take place again during the summer months of 2025.