Applications for our 2025 class are now available - CLICK HERE
About the Academy
Since 1971, Lakeland Community College Basic Police Academy has left an indelible footprint in Lake County and surrounding communities. Lakeland Community College has a history of forming community partnerships - knowing partnerships build strength and growth. Lakeland is excited to announce it has entered a partnership with Lake County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) to continue to offer a basic police academy.
This partnership is a collaboration which will combine such resources as leadership, technology, and networking, within a premier learning and training environment. This community partnership will not only provide an opportunity for qualified students but provide local law enforcement agencies with the option to send new hires to a police academy close to home.
This partnership will ensure Lakeland's legacy continues through the LCSO to meet and exceed the rigid standards of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPTOC). With this unique partnership, Lake County Sheriff's Office and Lakeland will ensure current and foreseeable training needs develop quality police officers which in turn provide for safer communities.
The Police Academy Commander is LCSO Chief Deputy Robert Izzo and the Assistant Commander is LCSO Deputy Don Ticel. LCC Dean of Students, Mario Petitti, will oversee the academic side of the academy and work closely with the Commander and Assistant Commander to ensure student success.
The Basic Police Academy at Lakeland Community College is administered by the Lake County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Council (OPOTC). The Basic Police Academy is required training to become a police officer in the State of Ohio. The curriculum includes all topics required by the OPOTC, as well as topics determined by the Academy Commander. Attendance at all classes is mandatory. To maintain a safe and quality learning environment, the size of a police academy class is limited to 30 students/cadets.
Please contact us with any questions.
To become a police officer in Ohio, applicants must complete a Peace Officer Basic Training Academy that is approved by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC).
Lakeland provides an open enrollment police academy, meaning that if you meet the qualifications listed below, you are eligible to enroll in the LCSO Basic Police Academy.
Find more information from the Ohio Attorney General.
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Must be 20 years of age by the start of the Academy.
- Must be a high school graduate or GED equivalent.
- Must possess a valid Ohio driver's license.
- Must pass Lakeland's Psychological exam prior to acceptance into the Academy. Click here to register for Psychology Exam.
- Must pass the OPOTC Physical Fitness Entry Assessment (PFEA) prior to acceptance into the Academy. Click here to register for the PFEA.
- Must pass a drug screen test prior to acceptance into the police academy.
- Must not have any felony convictions or serious misdemeanors.
- A sealed or expunged felony convictions as an adult and/or juvenile may exclude applicant from entering the police academy.
- Must not have a conviction of any domestic violence offense as defined in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2919.25.
- Must not have more than one OVI conviction within the past three years. OVI convictions greatly reduce your potential to be hired by a police department.
- Must not have any misdemeanor convictions within the past two years of the start of the application process (minor misdemeanors excluded*).
- Must not have any convictions for a sex offense as defined in Ohio Revised Code 2907.
- Must not have any convictions for any offense of violence as defined in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2901.01(A)(9).
More information on requirements and minor misdemeanor exclusion.
To be eligible for admittance to Lakeland's Basic Police Academy, a student must attain the minimum score for all three skills as set on the Entrance Physical Assessment Form. Failure to meet all three skills disqualifies entry to the academy. There are no exceptions.
*NOTE: The SF114bas Student Health Data Form (located in the application packet) must be completed by a medical doctor (MD), osteopath (DO) or physician assistant (PA) licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio or by a certified nurse practitioner (CNP) licensed by the Ohio Board of Nursing.
To be eligible to graduate from Lakeland's Basic Police Academy, a student must attain at least the minimum for all three skills as set on the SF195bas Final Physical Assessment Form near the end of the Academy. Failure to meet the minimum in all three skills will result in dismissal from the academy. . There will be no exceptions.
There is a $150 application fee. The in-county tuition fee is $5,650.
Cadets who have completed Lakeland's Basic Police Academy, passed the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy final exam, and submitted all required Lakeland paperwork are eligible to receive eighteen (18) college credits toward an Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice.
The Basic Police Academy is not a federal financial aid eligible program; therefore, federal funds (Pell Grant and/or federal student loans) cannot be used to pay tuition. There are scholarships funds and the Charles E. Schell loan program that students are encouraged to apply for. Applications for scholarships and the Schell loan program are in the enrollment packet. For more information, contact Lakeland's Financial Aid department.
If you are an open enrollment cadet, a firearm will be provided.
The Ohio Peace Officer Training Council requires applicants to have a National WebCheck performed. The SF 102bas form is included in your application packet.
A mandatory psychological examination will take place at Lakeland Community College
Once per year.
Full-time: Monday – Friday | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Some evenings and weekends
If you have any further questions or need additional information, please contact Lakeland's Basic Police Academy
