MarionMade!: Marion Tech Police Academy touts number of grads who stay in hometown

Special to Marion Star
·3 min read

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Hundreds of local law enforcement officers started at Marion Technical College’s police academy. Thirty classes have passed through the doors of the Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Academy (OPOTA) since 1995.

“I wanted to be a police officer since I was little,” said Marion Police officer Katrina Rostorfer, a graduate of the OPOTA class of 2021. “My dad was a firefighter. I wanted to help people. The community, now more than ever, needs good police officers.”

In 2024, 100% of the graduates passed the state exam. Over the years, graduates have a 99% passing rate. Class sizes average 15 students.

June graduates of the Ohio Peace Officer's Training Academy pose with their instructors. The academy's 25 instructors include many local law enforcement leaders.
June graduates of the Ohio Peace Officer's Training Academy pose with their instructors. The academy's 25 instructors include many local law enforcement leaders.

The academy moved from the main campus to downtown Marion in 2021. The classroom is named after alumni Brandy Winfield, a Marion County deputy who was killed in the line of duty in 2004. His son, Landon Winfield, graduated the academy in June. Seven graduates had job offers within a week of graduating. All are anticipated to have jobs by the end of summer.

An experienced team of instructors

The instructors have deep law enforcement experience. Robert Chidester, a retired FBI agent, started the academy. The current commander, Greg Perry, is an attorney, former prosecutor and current Morrow County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the instructors. The commander is phenomenal,” said Lt. Ed Brown of the Marion Police Department. “We use him here at the department. When I need to put on a class, I’ll ask him to do it.”

Landon Winfield received the Top Physical Fitness Award from Commander Greg Perry at the Ohio Peace Officer's Training Academy graduation in June. His father, Brandy, was a member of the second class at Marion Tech. His grandfather and uncle also served in local law enforcement.
Landon Winfield received the Top Physical Fitness Award from Commander Greg Perry at the Ohio Peace Officer's Training Academy graduation in June. His father, Brandy, was a member of the second class at Marion Tech. His grandfather and uncle also served in local law enforcement.

Its 25 instructors include many local law enforcement leaders. They include Maj. Chris Adkins and Maj. B.J. Gruber, Marion Police Department; Chief Adam Lakey, Mount Gilead Police Department; and Morrow County Sheriff John Tinton.

Matt Creps with the MARMET Drug Task Force presents for the class on narcotics and other illegal drugs. Officers Adkins, Brown and Creps are alumni of the academy.

“Trooper Kamal Nelson graduated with the first class in 1995. He drives to Columbus every day and comes home to Marion at night to teach for us. He enjoys giving back to the community,” Perry said. “In my mind, society benefits when their police are members of their own community."

That practical experience benefits students.

“The officers have the experience and may be handling a call one night and teaching about it the next day,” Brown said.

Chief Jay McDonald was with officer Katrina Rostorfer after she received an excellence award from the Central Ohio Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 2022 for her work keeping impaired drivers of the streets.
Chief Jay McDonald was with officer Katrina Rostorfer after she received an excellence award from the Central Ohio Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 2022 for her work keeping impaired drivers of the streets.

“Law enforcement is so awesome because you can do so many things. It’s never the same thing every day," Brown said. "I’m a hostage negotiator, a crisis intervention specialist, an evidence tech, a field training officer, I teach classes not only to law enforcement but also to citizens on scams and internet crimes. There’s so many different avenues you can go down. It’s an awesome career.”

“I wouldn’t be where I’m at without MTC. If you would’ve asked in 1996 if I would be sitting here as a major, I would have said no way,” Adkins said. “But I stayed in my town, stayed where I grew up and raised my kids here. MTC afforded me to stay close to home and not leave my community that I wanted to work in. I love every minute of it.”

Local support plays key role

The partnership with local law enforcement benefits the students and the community. The Marion Police Department donated a cruiser to the academy so students can practice driving.

“I’m an MTC alumni. We’ve hired a lot of MTC alumni because we know what we’re getting and we know the quality of the education that they’re getting that we’re getting so it’s just a natural fit for us to bring those people on board,” Brown said.

The Marion Police Department donated a cruiser to the academy so students can practice driving and traffic stop skills. Around the car are Mike Stuckey, left, Greg Perry, Dr. Ryan McCall, Chief Jay McDonald and Dr. Amy Adams.
The Marion Police Department donated a cruiser to the academy so students can practice driving and traffic stop skills. Around the car are Mike Stuckey, left, Greg Perry, Dr. Ryan McCall, Chief Jay McDonald and Dr. Amy Adams.

A Pell grant or the G.I. Bill cover the entire cost of college tuition. Students also are eligible for loans and other financial aid.

Graduates earn 30 hours of college credit, which is one year of an associate’s degree. Those looking to advance in their careers can finish with either an associate’s degree in criminal justice or law enforcement and then transfer credits to earn a bachelor’s degree.

The next academy starts Aug. 26.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Technical College training law enforcement officers