Career center Criminal Justice instructor details new program being offered in the fall

LISBON -- The Columbiana County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC) Board of Education heard a detailed presentation from the school's criminal justice instructor, former Columbiana County Sheriff's Office Deputy Damin Beadnell, and were introduced to his K-9, Hunter, during its regular meeting March 19.

The criminal justice program will start this fall for the 2024-2025 school year. A nine-year law enforcement veteran, Beadnell was hired to start in January to prepare the program for its first year at the school, Superintendent Chuck Adkins said.

Beadnell is crafting a program that he hopes will prepare high school students to begin a career in law enforcement right out of high school or to further their education in the field. Students can be hired immediately upon graduation as airport security with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a 911 dispatcher anywhere in Ohio, as a security guard, or in the corrections field, he said.

With the TSA, employees can start at $45,000 a year, Beadnell said.

"That's pretty decent money for an 18-year-old kid with no other training," he said.

If a student wants to pursue a career as a police officer, they would have to wait until they are 20 to enter the police academy due to Ohio law.

"Police officers, there is a huge shortage right now," Beadnell said. "Academies everywhere are low."

Some of the curriculum will come directly from the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA).

"A lot of the topics that I talk about, those are talked about in the police academy as well," Beadnell said.

Students will also earn five certifications during their time in the two-year program: CPR/First Aid, 911 dispatching, National Incident Management (NIMS), Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) 10, and Armament Systems and Procedures Inc. (ASP) baton.

The program will consist of two classes for juniors, American criminal justice system and forensics in criminal investigations; two classes for seniors, police work and practice in public safety and correctional system and services; and the students' senior capstone project.

A large focus of the criminal justice program will be on de-escalation techniques, social interaction, and problem-solving.

"Most of this job in criminal justice is not going out and fighting crime and arresting bad guys like everybody sees on TV," Beadnell said. "More of it is learning how to talk to people."

Students will learn about "criminal behavior and how it applies to criminal investigations" and how to collect and analyze evidence, like fingerprints, DNA, and ballistic samples in the first year as juniors, Beadnell said.

"I plan on doing a lot of mock crime scene stuff, which is pretty fun for the kids," he said.

In the second year, students will learn about federal and state laws, handcuffing techniques, self-defense techniques, and how to use the ASP Inc. police baton.

CCCTC's website says the criminal justice program will educate students on "the American criminal justice system, law enforcement, the correctional system, and forensic science investigation."

Beadnell also plans to implement dress and fitness requirements.

"Visiting everywhere else, they have a lot of strict fitness programs," Beadnell said of the other career and technical centers he went to.

The 6-year-old Belgian Malinois K-9, Hunter, is a retired dual-purpose police dog, who had a successful career taking illegal drugs off the streets, tracking down a homicide suspect, and finding a murder weapon. The dog will be a daily presence in the school next year, Beadnell said.

"He's very good with children. He lives at home with two small children," he said. "So there's never a doubt in my mind that he would cause any problems."

Principal Jordin Williams said Hunter is a "fan favorite" at CCCTC.

Beadnell said there are already 22 spots of 25 filled for the first year of the criminal justice program and he is excited to steer students into the field of law enforcement.

"There are so many different careers in the criminal justice system," Beadnell said. "The FBI alone has hundreds of different jobs."

"These look like they're well done," board member Larry Duco said of the curriculum outline given to the board. "I appreciate that."

The CCCTC Board of Education will next meet in the Central Office Board Room at 7 p.m. April 16.