West Cleveland News

Molly A. Searles, a member of the Bay Village Police Department, recently received her training certificate during the graduation ceremonies for the 149th Basic Peace Officer Class at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Training Academy. Searles was among 46 graduates who will now assume duties as peace officers for one of 22 Ohio agencies.

According to a press release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a ceremony was held on January 12 for these graduates who had undergone a rigorous 21-week course commencing in August 2023. The comprehensive training covered an extensive range of 150 topics. These included traffic law, criminal law, community relations, physical training, self-defense, firearms handling, emergency vehicle operations, standardized field sobriety testing and electronic speed measuring devices.

Zachary M. Hudson from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Parks and Watercraft Division was chosen as the class speaker by his peers, according to another press release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The same source also reveals that Michael Rankin from the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office served as the featured speaker during this ceremony. Furthermore, Benjamin B. Suver, Chief of Staff at the Ohio Department of Public Safety and Col. Charles A. Jones, Patrol Superintendent both offered remarks at this event.