MECHANICSBURG – The Mechanicsburg Police Department is one of the first 60 law enforcement agencies in the state to receive certification for adopting and implementing new state standards established by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board, the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) announced Aug. 22.

According to an ODPS press release, the new standards were developed by the Ohio Collaborative in August 2015 as part of the state’s efforts to strengthen community and police relations.

By meeting the required standards regarding the use of force as well as agency employee recruitment and hiring, the MPD became the first agency in Champaign County to receive the certification.

“We, as a department, always work hard to try to meet the standards that are set for us,” Police Chief John Alexander said. “We take all training very serious, and we constantly look for new ways to improve.

“We believe when standards are set, you should work as quickly as you can to comply,” he added.

To help certify Ohio’s nearly 1,000 law enforcement agencies, the state has partnered with the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, the release states.

Certifications will continue throughout 2016 with the first list of all Ohio compliant agencies set to be published in March 2017.

For more information on the Ohio Collaborative, the certification process for law enforcement, and the complete list of agencies who have been certified, visit www.ocjs.ohio.gov/ohiocollaborative.