AG Wilson Honors Law Enforcement, Spotlights OPOTA Training at Annual Symposium
(DAYTON, Ohio) — Attorney General Andy Wilson joined peace officers this week at the 2026 Law Enforcement Training Symposium (LETS) to honor their achievements and thank them for their dedicated service to Ohio’s communities.
“You give a piece of your soul, your heart and who you are to the people you serve and protect,” Wilson said. “You do it because your sense of duty and service calls you to help people. We can never repay you for what you give us.”
The annual conference, held for the first time in Dayton, continued setting a new standard for Ohio law enforcement training. It is hosted by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, a division of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, to equip officers with the tools and knowledge they need to serve their communities effectively.
The symposium featured more than 50 workshops presented by experts from Ohio and beyond. Among those sessions were keynote presentations by Jim Schmidt, stepfather of Gabby Petito and board member of the Gabby Petito Foundation; Kara Robinson Chamberlain, a survivor advocate; and Harry Trombitas, a retired FBI special agent.
This year’s event, held Sept. 13-15, again offered officers the convenience of completing their mandatory continuing professional training (CPT) on-site in one location, reducing time away from their communities.
On Monday evening, Wilson joined other leaders in Ohio law enforcement for an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding service and achievements in public safety.
The 2026 awards and recipients are:
Victoria Allen Civilian Leadership Award
Paul McNeal, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Mount Vernon (Photo | Video)
Training Award
Sgt. Steven Drew, Ohio State Highway Patrol (Photo | Video)
Community Service Award
Trooper William Watson, Ohio State Highway Patrol (Photo | Video)
Blue Line Award (two awards given)
Chief Robert K. Morgan, Mount Vernon Police Department (Photo | Video)
Crisis Intervention Team Co-Responder Program, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (Photo | Video)
Group Achievement Award
Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force
Exemplary Response Award (two awards given)
Trooper Grant E. Baumle, Ohio State Highway Patrol (Photo | Video)
Deputy Bailey Ramsey, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Ashlie Walter, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office
Paramedic Thad Davis, Mechanicsburg Fire Department
EMT Jason Richey, Mechanicsburg Fire Department
(Photo | Video)
Valor Award
Officer Ali F. Sabeiha, Elyria Police Department (Photo | Video)
Lifetime Achievement Award (two awards given)
Chief Jerome “Jerry” T. Klue (ret.), Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Public Safety (Photo | Video)
William “Bill” Swank, Ambassador and Advocate for Ohio Law Enforcement (Photo | Video)
To read about the impact of each award winner, visit the conference website and click on the “Award Winners” tab at the top of the landing page.
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Dominic Binkley: 614-728-4127
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