Ohio

Who watches the police?

Ohio LE oversight centers on the Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC), which holds binding decertification authority over all certified peace officers under R.C. 109.73–109.77. The Ohio Office of Inspector General (R.C. 121.41–121.42) investigates wrongful acts by state officers and employees, including those at the Ohio State Highway Patrol and ODRC, with full records access and subpoena power. The ODRC Office of the Chief Inspector (R.C. 5120.06 / OAC 5120-9-30) provides internal corrections oversight with broad facility access. The Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board (E.O. 2015-04K; cited in R.C. 2935.031) sets voluntary standards only. No statewide civilian use-of-force investigative body exists; local civilian review boards in Columbus, Cleveland, and Akron operate under municipal authority without state statutory mandate.

1. R.C. 109.71 – Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission membership and peace officer definitions
2. R.C. 109.75 – Powers and duties of OPOTC executive director (certification/decertification)
3. R.C. 121.41–121.42 – Ohio Office of Inspector General scope and powers
4. OAC 5120-9-30 – ODRC Office of the Chief Inspector powers and duties
5. R.C. 2935.031 – Reference to Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board pursuit standards
6. R.C. 109.73 – OPOTC powers including certificate issuance and revocation