Two Mansfield Police officers are members of the 150th Basic Peace Officer Class

COLUMBUS — Two Mansfield Police officers are among the 44 graduates of the 150th Basic Peace Officer Class.

Stephen J. Shafer and Marquis D. Fortner received training certificates during a graduation ceremony held Wednesday at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Training Academy.

Shafer also received class honors for Top Firearms.

Marion Police Chief Jay McDonald was the speaker for the ceremony and addressed the graduates and an audience of friends, relatives and law enforcement officers.

The 44 graduates will assume duties as peace officers for 31 Ohio agencies.

The 21-week basic course began in February. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Training Academy’s Basic Peace Officer course exceeds the training requirements developed by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission and offers instruction in more than 150 topics, including criminal law, traffic law, community relations, physical training, self-defense, firearms , emergency vehicle operations, standardized field sobriety testing and electronic speed measuring devices.

The Patrol’s Training Academy is recognized as a “STAR-certified” academy by the Ohio Attorney General for its excellence in training.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield Police officers graduate from basic peace officer training