The two newest City of Hilliard Division of Police officers graduated from the Columbus Police Training Academy on Friday, July 10.
Officers Carter Ely and Alexa Napier, who took the oath of office in November, are members of the academy’s 150th graduating class. Their graduation marked the successful completion of 31 weeks of training to prepare them for careers in law enforcement.
During that time, Ely and Napier completed extensive instruction in criminal law, patrol procedures, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and community policing.
“Graduating from the police academy is a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to the hard work, discipline, and commitment Carter and Alexa have shown over the past several months,” said Chief of Police Michael Woods. “We are proud to have them as members of the Hilliard Division of Police and look forward to watching them continue to grow as they serve our community.”
Ely is a Hilliard native and a graduate of Hilliard Davidson High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology and justice studies from Otterbein University and previously completed an internship with HPD.
Napier is from the Powell area and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati. Before joining HPD, she completed an internship with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, where she saw firsthand the impact empathy and compassion can have when serving victims.
Following graduation, Ely and Napier will complete a 15-week field training program, working alongside experienced field training officers as they transition from the academy to patrol and continue preparing to serve the Hilliard community.
