Four new police officers have taken the next step in their journeys to protect and serve as members of the Hilliard Division of Police.
Officer Andrew Murry, Officer Taylor Graves, Officer Matthew Hayes and Officer Casey McManaway were among 57 graduates of the Columbus Police Academy on Friday, Jan. 4. The 130th recruit class completed 29 weeks of training they began on June 18, 2018.
The four are among 58 officers who serve the City of Hilliard.
“To wear the uniform of a Hilliard police officer is a significant accomplishment and demonstrates a person’s willingness to accept the challenge of making this community a better place to live, work and play,” said Chief of Police Bobby Fisher.
“We are incredibly proud of these four officers,” he said. “We look forward to them getting to know the Hilliard community.”
The academy program teaches recruits how to become exceptional law enforcement officers with tools including defensive tactics, physical training, patrol operations, law and legal procedures, human relations, applied behavioral science, criminal investigation and firearms.
Recruits graduate with not only the ability to be the best officer they can be but a family and community they can count on for the rest of their lives.
The 130th class, which is comprised of officers from eight central Ohio police jurisdictions, received the third highest Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy score in the academy’s history with an average of 92.15 percent. Recruits also received twice the training mandated by the state.
HPD’s Officer Murry was elected as a class officer.
The division is continuing its recruitment efforts, and looks to hire additional officers to enter the academy in June 2019. Those who are interested to becoming Hilliard police officers are encouraged to attend a Career Day on Jan. 12. Applications for the 2019 year are due Jan. 15 with a written examination set to take place Jan. 21.
For more information on how to become a member of HPD, visit the agency’s website.
The new officers will begin their 13-week field training with the division on Jan. 7, and are expected to begin patrolling the streets of Hilliard this spring.
