"The professional voice of crime prevention in Ohio"
History
The Ohio Crime Prevention Association, the professional voice on crime prevention in Ohio and a partner in numerous national programs, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year of helping to make our communities safer places to live, work and raise a family.
OCPA was founded in 1997 by a core group of crime prevention officers in Columbus with the goal of promoting the practice and profession of crime prevention within law enforcement and Ohio’s communities. Today, with members from around the state representing law enforcement and the private sector, businesses, government agencies and the public at large, OCPA develops and advances a continuum of educational opportunities, resources, programs and networks in an effort to prevent crime in Ohio.
For 30 years, OCPA and its members have been instrumental in the development and promotion of a host of national initiatives to fight crime, including McGruff the Crime Dog, National Night Out, Neighborhood Watch, and the National Crime Prevention Association, to name a few. OCPA has also developed a successful certification program for Ohio crime prevention practitioners, designed a crime prevention and community policing curriculum for the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy, partnered with the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association to bring the TRIAD senior safety program to Ohio, and conducted thousands of trainings on important crime prevention topics for crime prevention professionals and the public.
Current OCPA initiatives include Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch (NW/BW) programs for communities and businesses; Terrorism Awareness and Prevention (TAP) training; school safety planning and training; Crime Prevention Specialist (CPS) training and certification; Northern Border Initiative (NBI); and human trafficking awareness and prevention. OCPA sponsors an annual training conference and hosts training and awareness programs on topics such as internet safety, retail crime, campus crime prevention, workplace violence, gangs and drugs.
OCPA celebrated its 30th anniversary conference in May of 2007. The event attracted more than 300 participants and was an example of the passion that has made OCPA and the crime prevention community a strong force in Ohio for 30 years. OCPA looks forward to the next 30 years of partnership and service to the communities it serves.
Timeline
- 1977 – OCPA established by a core group of crime prevention officers.
- 1979 – First basic crime prevention school established by OCPA.
- 1980 – National Crime Prevention Council, with OCPA help, establishes McGruff.
- 1990 – A new definition of crime prevention: Ten Beliefs of Crime Prevention is developed and recognized nationwide.
- 1993 – OCPA brings TRIAD and Senior Safety Partnership with AARP and the Buckeye State Sheriffs Association to Ohio.
- 1994 – Crime Prevention Specialist certification developed.
- 1996 – Guidebook to Community Policing and Neighborhood Watch and Community Mobilization manuals published.
- 1997 – School Resource Officer Association Incorporated by OCPA.
- 1997 – Michael Blankenship Award first given to recognize outstanding achievement and dedication to crime prevention and OCPA.
- 1998 – OCPA designs the New Crime Prevention and Community Policing Curriculum for OPOTA.
- 2001 – Preparing and training for new threats to safety and security through TAP (Terrorism Awareness and Prevention) and other programs.
- 2003 – TAP training manual produced and train-the-trainers begins.
- 2005 – Basic Training curriculum published for use with training classes.
- 2006 – TAP II developed and distributed and Neighborhood and Business Watch training CD published.
- OCPA celebrates its 30th year as the nation’s largest state crime prevention association.
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