The division entered 1977 with its first Academy Class in 20 months nearing graduation and a high likelihood of subsequent classes to follow shortly after. The graduation of the 100th Academy Class, scheduled for February 4, 1977, was to be the "coming out" of a new title -- "trooper." Instead, the title would be brought in to public notice while officers worked through the coldest month on record and one of the worst blizzards ever to hit Ohio.

The extremely cold weather endured during January 1977 compounded an even greater problem the division had already been battling -- the energy crisis. By the 28th of the month, the troubles reached their peak and instruction at the Academy was terminated. As in-service classes, the 33rd Basic Police Class, and the 100th Academy Class were dismissed, a catastrophic blizzard with extremely low temperatures was in progress. During the following three days, officers worked longer hours, investigated more crashes, and assisted more motorists than any comparable period in nearly a decade. Troopers rescued thousands of stranded motorists and snowbound residents using plows, snowmobiles, and four-wheel drive vehicles. In one case, a trooper and a paramedic were able to reach an expectant mother in advanced labor only by snow mobile, then carried her on a stretcher one-quarter mile to a waiting ambulance.

During the three-day ordeal, post personnel answered nearly a half million telephone calls from Ohioans across the state. At the same time, a tool which came into use unceremoniously in the early 1960s also was of great assistance -- the citizens band (CB) radio. Over 10,000 requests for assistance were received over the CB, greatly reducing the response time required under normal circumstances. The division had, for several years, touted the use of CBs to report emergencies and request assistance, and in fact had averaged around 50,000 CB broadcasts over emergency channel 9 in the two years preceding the blizzard of 1977. Two weeks later, license plates reading "CB CH9" were placed on marked Patrol cars as a further reminder that troopers routinely monitor the CB emergency channel.

Despite the weather emergency, graduation of the 100th Academy Class was held February 4, 1977. Among the 75 graduates was Tpr. Diane L. Harris, the first female trooper in the history of the division. Tpr. Harris was one of two females who entered the 100th Academy Class -- the other resigned one month into training. The 100th Academy Class also had several other interesting distinctions: five graduates were sons of retired, deceased, or current officers; the brother of one and two brothers of another graduate were already commissioned Patrol officers; and for the first time, two brothers graduated together in the same class.

Also during February 1977, the division launched its Junior Trooper Safety Program. Targeted at children aged six to 12 years, the program consisted of four Saturday sessions at Patrol posts with uniformed and auxiliary officers teaching bicycle and pedestrian safety, school bus behavior, and traffic safety rules. The program was later expanded to include children in various hospitals around the state.

A Federal grant of nearly $1 million was awarded to the division in early 1977 to implement an overtime program entitled SMASH (Selective Management of Accident Site Highways). The program was designed to specifically target selected areas for maximum enforcement, thereby reducing crashes and fatalities. Results of the program were impressive: SMASH enforcement areas experienced a 10 percent decrease in fatalities and injuries during the effort. The success of this groundbreaking project precipitated the development of many more federally funded enforcement efforts in the years to follow.

Another program initiated at this time -- one which exists yet today -- was Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort). Originally a joint effort of four midwestern states -- Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan -- Operation CARE was a unified interstate enforcement program designed to assure as many marked patrol cars as possible were on interstates during busy holiday travel. Success of the first (Labor Day 1977) Operation CARE holiday led to a continuation and expansion of the program. Today, Operation CARE membership includes all 50 states, four Canadian agencies, and departments in four U. S. Territories and the District of Columbia.

Colonel Reiss and his planners also worked to address non-traffic related concerns during this time. The COMMAND Team (Contingency of Men Managing And Negotiating Difficult situations) was formed to replace Patrol anti-sniper teams formed previously. COMMAND Team officers were subjected to regular, strenuous training sessions and evolved into a highly skilled tactical unit. Individual officers were assigned throughout the state to assure their specialized skills were available to quickly respond to an emergency. Team members were under the command of Captain David L. Furiate and Lt. Verlin G. Archer.

An incident for which the COMMAND Team was designed occurred two weeks after it was formed. On June 2, 1977, Patrol units responded to a request for traffic and perimeter control assistance from the Boardman Police Department after a man armed with two revolvers barricaded himself in a municipal garage. During the ordeal, a Boardman Police Department officer was taken hostage. After two hours of unsuccessful negotiation, the suspect became more unstable, and the local police requested a sharpshooter be deployed to cover the hostage officer. Tpr. John P. Isoldi, a COMMAND Team member, was ordered into position. The subject then pointed his weapon at the hostage's head and pulled back the hammer. Tpr. Isoldi responded by firing a single shot, killing the suspect and freeing the hostage.

1977 was also a year of several improvements in the radio field. One major improvement was the federally funded purchase of 423 Motorola mobile 10-frequency radios to replace the old "tube type" RCA radios and the older-model General Electric radio. The changeover virtually eliminated radio down-time and poor reception in problem areas of the Jackson and Piqua districts. At about the same time, receivers were installed at the New Albany radio station to permit the Columbus Communications Center to transmit and receive all posts and mobile radios throughout the entire state. The LEADS system also received a substantial upgrade, including the implementation of an elevated operating level allowing greater storage capacity and faster response time.

The blizzard of 1977, touted as the "blizzard of the century," turned out to be just a practice run for the blizzard of 1978. The crippling 1978 storm lasted two days and, from January 26 through January 28, the entire state was at a standstill. Thousands of motorists became stranded and many residents became marooned in their homes, many during very lengthy power outages. Post facilities throughout the state became shelters for evacuees who had nowhere to go for safety.

The tireless work performed by officers during this ordeal was typified by Tpr. Barry M. Elder, Walbridge. After being stranded in his cruiser and an unheated weigh station on IS 75 with five other people for over 24 hours, he joined several Bowling Green police officers in rescue runs within the city. Sixty-one hours after starting his shift, things finally quieted down enough for him to get a little sleep.

One of the greatest difficulties experienced during the blizzards of 1977 and 1978 was that regular patrol cruisers were ill-suited to traverse the blizzard-swept rural roads of Ohio. After months of study, the division purchased 20 four-wheel drive Ford Broncos, each equipped with a snow blade, to strengthen response and rescue capabilities.

Within two weeks of the blizzard, officers responded to another emergency -- the coal trucker strike of 1978. Troopers from around the state were called to the Jackson and Cambridge districts -- the heart of Ohio's coal production -- to escort non striking drivers and investigate strike-related criminal activity on the highways. The five-week action, which cost Ohio taxpayers in excess of one-half million dollars for Patrol activities, ended on March 26.

Following close on the heels of the highly successful SMASH program was another federally funded effort entitled OASIS (Ohioans Against Speeding in Our State). OASIS, which went into effect on April 23, 1978, was designed to stop a rising trend of motorists traveling faster than the federally mandated 55 miles-per-hour speed limit. The program paid troopers to work overtime in areas with high in stances of speed violations and traffic crashes. The overall deterrent effect of OASIS yielded results similar to those with SMASH, and the program was renewed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Two separate measures recognizing the dangerous aspects of law enforcement service received approval during the summer months of 1978. The first was the Injury Leave Bill (Sub. HB 839), approving up to 1,000 hours of paid leave (without the use of sick leave) to officers injured in the line of duty. The measure was passed by the General Assembly on June 16 without a single dissenting vote. Two months later, Gov. Rhodes approved a hazardous duty pay provision to compensate troopers, sergeants, and lieu tenants for the performance of dangerous functions unique to the law enforcement profession.

Driver license examination also saw changes during this time as testing was modified to better gauge the overall driving skill of the applicant. In June 1978, the parallel parking test, a long-time component of the Ohio driving test, was eliminated in favor of a maneuverability test. The new maneuverability test involved driving through a series of traffic cones to demonstrate the applicant's mastery of modern-day driving skills. A modified and updated motorcycle test was implemented several months later, making the sum of Ohio's driver examinations among the most modern and effective gauges of driving ability. Later, in June 1981, a new driver examination for the deaf developed by the Patrol and the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission went into effect.

A tool investigators had developed during the 1970s finally saw practical use in December 1978 when hypnosis was utilized in a hit-skip case. Lts. Douglas C. Wells and Richard F. Wilcox used the technique to interview three witnesses to a fatal mishap involving a pedestrian. The key principle behind hypnotic interview is that the brain automatically records all that it sees -- retaining information even though the subject might not be able to consciously recall it. Under hypnosis, the witnesses were able to provide a few leads to the case that were not otherwise available.

In the closing days of January 1979, a tractorcade of over 800 farm vehicles entered Ohio enroute to Washington D. C. to demonstrate in favor of higher price supports. The tractorcade began in the Midwest and its numbers grew the farther east it moved. By the time it entered Ohio, Interstate 70 became host to an awesome display of numbers, with farm vehicles stretching for as far as the eye could see. The convoy stopped twice in Ohio, a scheduled stopover at the Ohio Fairgrounds, and another (unscheduled) stop at a shopping mall in St. Clairsville. Although the traffic flow on I-70 was a bit hampered and facilitating the movement of the farmers proved to be a challenge, the action was peaceful and there were no reports of criminal activity of any kind during the two days.

Like Colonels Blackstone and Reiss, Colonel Walsh's energies were immediately directed at the world-wide energy crisis. Three months earlier, Gov. Rhodes had set a petroleum fuel conservation standard of five percent for state government, which the Patrol accomplished by establishing a program in which troopers sat on stationary patrol with the engine turned off for 10 minutes per hour. Several weeks later, the fuel conservation standard was doubled -- to 10 percent -- with the Patrol following suit by ordering 10 minute stationary patrols every half hour.

Realizing that further cuts through additional stationary patrols would not be practical, Colonel Walsh launched a massive energy conservation campaign. The centerpiece of this effort was an education program designed to teach officers the most fuel-efficient manner of driving, and how to apply this knowledge to the unique demands of traffic enforcement duty. Patrol instructors in turn used a computer-equipped patrol car to demonstrate the savings that could be achieved through the new driving techniques. The program, painstakingly taken to each individual post, resulted in the savings of thousands of gallons of gasoline, as well as thousands of tax dollars. The program received considerable publicity and over 650 copies were distributed to interested agencies and private businesses.

Other gasoline savings ideas were also put into use. The experiment with "down-sized" patrol cars (begun under Colonel Reiss) progressed, with the hope that smaller, more fuel-efficient cruisers might prove suitable for normal duty. Another move in the conservation effort was the installation of "autotherm" devices in each patrol car. The autotherm enabled the vehicle to recycle warm air, keeping the cruiser warm for 30 minutes with the engine shut off. This allowed longer stationary patrols in the frigid winter months, saving gasoline without compromising the comfort of the officer.

Finally, a computerized motor cost reporting system was initiated in 1980 to enable administrators to monitor expenses and keep them at their lowest possible level.

The success of Patrol fuel efficiency programs in the nine years since their introduction by Colonel Chiaramonte in 1974 was underscored when a study indicated the average fleet miles-per- gallon average had increased by 30 percent. Through all these efforts, 9.5 million gallons of gasoline were saved during the nine-year period, a savings of millions of dollars.

Though fuel economy and savings required immediate attention, a greater problem faced Colonel Walsh and his planners as the division entered the 1980s. After experiencing a dramatic decline in motor vehicle deaths following the enactment of the 55 miles-per-hour speed limit, the number of Ohioans killed in traffic crashes began to increase. From 1975 to 1979, rural traffic deaths increased at a rate of about 75 persons per year. In an effort to reverse this trend, Colonel Walsh announced a goal of reducing traffic fatalities by 10 percent in 1980 and an additional five percent in 1981.

To achieve these goals, Colonel Walsh empowered local commanders to devise fatality reduction programs tailored to their areas. Through selective enforcement in problem areas, concentration on crash-causing violations (especially following too closely and OMVI), and public information campaigns, the ambitious goals were not only met, they were exceeded. Rural fatalities dropped 11.4 percent in 1980 and 12.2 percent in 1981. These successes paved the way for continued reductions throughout the 1980s. The early 1980s was also a time when several legal and administrative changes were enacted to strengthen troopers powers, training, and compensation.

The first was a law signed into effect by Gov. Rhodes in December 1980. House Bill 837, which became effective March 23, 1981, gave Patrol officers the same right of search and seizure (within its jurisdiction) as any other police officer. The law also extended full arrest powers anywhere in the state when officers are assigned to a protective detail and the security of the person they are assigned to protect is in danger. Protection could also be extended, at the discretion of the governor, to other state officials, United States officials, and any other persons requiring such protection.

Another notable change was the extension of the cadet training course -- from 16 to 18 weeks. The longer training period began with the 110th Academy Class, with an improved emergency victim care session highlighting the additional curriculum. This pushed the overall length of training for a new trooper to eight months: 18 weeks at the Academy; 12 weeks of officer-coach training in which the officer rides with an experienced officer during the critical break-in period; then two additional weeks at the Academy. Each of these steps was required before a new officer could assume regular duty.

To complement the new training requirements, the division's standards committee conducted a re-examination and validation of the physical agility entry requirements in early 1981. From this study, an entirely new health and physical fitness program arose. From initial hiring to retirement, each officer is medically tracked to identify potential (or existing) medical problems. Not only does the individual officer benefit from this new concept in health maintenance, the division does as well, as valuable officers are assisted in maintaining top physical condition.

A budget bill which became effective in November 1981 also provided tremendous benefits to Patrol officers. Among the provisions of the bill were: an across-the-board 15 percent pay increase over 10 months; an automatic nine percent pay increase for officers promoted by the superintendent; "true" time-and-one-half pay for overtime; sick leave reimbursement upon separation at 50 percent of actual value; and three personal days per year. Three days later, Gov. Rhodes signed Amended SB 133, heralding the most significant changes in the Highway Patrol Retirement System since it was created. The new law established a minimum level of benefits; provided cost-of-living provisions; raised the maximum possible pension; allowed members to become eligible for reduced pension benefits at age 48; and granted a more favorable disability clause.

Staff and command changes were also in evidence during this time. In January 1982, the ranks of lieutenant and staff lieutenant were combined, with the gold lieutenant's rank insignia retired in favor of the silver one.

Later that same year, Colonel Walsh established the Bureau of Inspection and Standards to oversee the division's inspection program and evaluate complaints against officers. Selected to head the new bureau was Major David D. Sturtz who, after retiring from the division, became the first Inspector General of the state of Ohio.

Another important undertaking begun during the busy first few years of Colonel Walsh's superintendency was the largest safety belt survey in the nation's history. Initiated in January 1981, the survey involved stopping vehicles, checking to see if the occupants were wearing safety belts, and determining why those who weren't chose not to. Results of that initial study indicated that Ohioans used their safety belts at a rate twice that of the nation's average. The study was enlarged and conducted again in the years 1982 and 1983, and included an opinion survey which indicated that a majority of those inspected (56.5%) favored a mandatory safety belt law. So important was this study, it was included in the Congressional Record by the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad ministration as a model safety belt promotion.

Though the mandatory safety belt law was still several years away, legislation protecting younger passengers became effective in March 1983. This "child restraint law" required that children either four years old or younger, or 40 pounds or under, be securely fastened in a child restraint system. This law, along with an effective public information campaign and a Department of Highway Safety program to assist lower-income people in obtaining child safety seats, contributed to a substantial decrease in deaths and injuries among child passengers.

Critical to Colonel Walsh's fatality reduction programs were the division's OMVI enforcement efforts. Such efforts were typified by the highly successful STOP (Spring-Time OMVI Program) program. Launched in April 1982, just in time for the prom/graduation season, the youth-oriented OMVI effort revolved around extensive publicity, and touched adult drivers as well as youthful ones.

Not surprisingly, rural traffic fatalities dropped by 25 percent during the quarter when STOP was in effect. So effective was the program, it was renewed again the following spring.

The motoring public, too, was brought into the OMVI reduction effort with the Department of Highway Safety's Project REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately). The program revolved around educating the public in how to spot and report drunk/dangerous drivers to local police agencies. Citizens Band radio usage was stressed as a fast and efficient manner in which to reveal the locations of violators.

Assistance in OMVI reduction efforts also came in the form of legislation. A tough OMVI law became effective in March 1983, which, among other provisions, created mandatory (and increased) penalties and pre-trial suspensions.

Recognizing that an effective OMVI program requires the best possible evidence be presented in court, the division purchased new BAC Verifiers to replace intoxilizers which had been in use since 1976. The BAC Verifier offered several improvements over the intoxilizer, including: one-button operation; a shut-down program to eliminate radio interference; an acetone detector to assist in testing of diabetics; a sample analyzer to reject "short" breath samples; and increased accuracy.

In conjunction with the breath analysis equipment, the Patrol added new field sobriety tests to further enhance the effectiveness of OMVI enforcement. Among those adopted was the horizontal gaze-nystagmus test, in which suspects are directed to follow an object (usually a pen or tiny flashlight) with their eyes.

For two weeks in early 1983, troopers stationed in certain areas of the state were put on extended hours of duty as an independent truck driver shutdown brought injury and destruction to Ohio's highways. From January 31 through February 13, 1983, officers recorded 124 shootings, 228 incidents of objects thrown, 483 trucks damaged, and 51 arrests. Also included were 24 injuries, some of which were very serious. Among the activities undertaken by the division during the action was its assistance in setting up the Ohio Trucking Association's (OTA) Shutdown Monitoring Center, a 24-hour-per-day rumor control program. Officers checked out rumors and provided details of violence and harassment around the state, helping to assure factual -- rather than distorted -- information was continually available. Patrol efforts to minimize the hardship created by the shutdown were honored when the OTA presented the division its Distinguished Public Service Award during its 1983 convention.

The year 1983 was, in itself, a milestone for the division. It marked 50 years of existence -- the Golden Anniversary of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. It was in recognition of this anniversary that the first silver patrol cruisers were purchased. It was originally planned that gold cars would be purchased to mark the Golden Anniversary, but testing indicated that the flying wheel emblem did not contrast well on the gold model. The anniversary was officially marked with a banquet held November 12, 1983, at the Aladdin Temple Shrine Mosque in Columbus. Over 1,500 officers, employees, retirees, and guests attended the banquet.

In the closing days of 1983, the division was selected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association as one of six states to participate in a comprehensive test of passive restraint air bags. Seventy-five of the devices were received and retrofitted onto existing cruisers, where their effectiveness could be evaluated on a practical level. In a demonstration held at TRC Labs, a 1982 Plymouth patrol car was equipped with one of the devices, then crashed into a block wall at 36 miles per hour. The dramatic results of this test, as well as those obtained during the 18-month test program, led to the eventual incorporation of air bags in all Highway Patrol cruisers.

To further encourage safety belt use, Department of Highway Safety and Highway Patrol officials launched the "Saved By the Belt" award in May 1984. The program was designed to publicize real-life incidents in which safety belts saved motorists from death or serious injury. Crash survivors are honored with certificates at news conferences in which their ordeals are detailed.

During the Week of December 17, 1984, the first Assessment Center was held. Intended to augment the promotional process for sergeants being considered for promotion to post commander, the process evaluates and predicts a sergeant's success in the position of post commander. Sgts. P. D. McClellan and L. R. Reel were the first to successfully complete the Assessment Center and receive promotions to lieutenant. The success of this program is evident by the fact that it still exists in more or less the same form today.

The passage of legislation in early 1985 led to the placement of all scale operations, equipment, and facilities under Patrol management. On July 7, 1985, 89 load limit inspectors were officially transferred from the Department of Transportation to the Highway Patrol. The load limit inspectors had been assigned to ODOT since April 1974.

During the week of July 8 - 12, 1985, elections were held to determine the bargaining agent for troopers, dispatchers, and communications technicians. This followed the passage of Senate Bill 133, Ohio's Collective Bargaining Bill for public employees, which became law October 6, 1983. Of 1,053 eligible votes, 798 were cast -- 732 for the Ohio Labor Council/Fraternal Order of Police and 64 for "no representative." The first contract vote was conducted in March 1986, with Bargaining Unit 1 employees (troopers, dispatchers, and radio technicians) overwhelming voting in favor of the agreement. However, both houses of the state legislature rejected the contract. A final meeting between the two sides was required to settle differences and, on April 28, 1986, the first labor agreement in the history of the Ohio State Highway Patrol was officially signed.

A permanent tribute to the proud history of the division was dedicated in September 1985 when Colonel Walsh cut the ribbon at Heritage Hall. Located at the Academy, Heritage Hall is a collection of historical memorabilia collected throughout the years, with many pieces donated by Patrol members and friends. Over 250 retirees, widows, and active personnel gathered for the dedication ceremony.

In late 1985, the division escorted the largest load ever moved in Ohio (and possibly anywhere), when huge presses were transported from Cleveland to the General Motors stamping plant in Ontario, Ohio. The first load, 506,520 pounds, left Cleveland on October 31, 1985, and traveled the 80 miles to Ontario on IS-71 and US-30. Traffic was maintained with minimal delay despite the slow movement of the vehicle (15 miles per hour).

Officer awards also produced several firsts in 1985. Tpr. Robert L. Matthews became the first state police/highway patrol candidate to receive the prestigious J. Stannard Baker Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Award. He was honored for his heroic effort to rescue two motorists from a burning vehicle, an incident which also earned him the 1984 O. W. Merrell Award. The following year, Tpr. Susan M. Rance received the Baker Award for the development of an innovative and effective safety belt program for children. Another first was realized in 1985 when Tpr. Mary M. Hearns became the first female ACE in the history of the division.

The following year, several new awards were added to the Highway Patrol's itinerary of annual recognition. The Robert M. Chiaramonte Humanitarian Award, presented annually to the officer who distinguishes him/herself through exemplary service and assistance to motorists in need, was one of the awards added for the 1986 awards ceremony. The first recipient was Tpr. David L. Dotson, Cambridge, who rendered assistance to over 1,700 motorists during the year. Also added to the awards list were the PAR (Patrol Achievement and Recognition) Awards, which includes Post, District, and State Dispatcher of the Year Awards, and the Outstanding Electronics Team of the Year Award. The first Dispatcher of the Year Award went to Disp. Thomas C. Anderson, Chardon, and the first Outstanding Electronics Team Award winners were the Massillon district technicians team, comprised of RT3 Virgil L. Dehoff, RT2 Steven W. Garwood, and RT1 Robert R. Shirley.

The division itself was honored in 1986 when it tied (with the Rhode Island State Police) for first place in the 1986 Best Dressed Police Department competition sponsored by the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors. The tie was an unprecedented move for judges of the contest, who were greatly impressed with the overall quality of the entries. The previous year, the division received the Outstanding Achievement Award in the competition.

A final award worthy of mention was also received by a Patrol officer during this time. The Survivors Club Award, presented by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the DuPont Kelvar Company, was presented to Tpr. Carl D. Cardinal, in recognition of having been saved by his body armor. In 1987, Tpr. Cardinal was involved in a "routine" traffic stop when a suspect shot him twice in the lower back and left him for dead. Both shots were deflected by the armor. The officer regained his composure and radioed descriptions of the suspects, who were later apprehended.

To complement the division's upgraded physical maintenance program, a Heath and Fitness Center was constructed at the Academy. Equipped with modern training and exercise equipment, the addition was dedicated on July 22, 1986, with special recognition and appreciation to Dr. Norris E. Lenahan, Patrol physician for 29 years.
Another development at the Academy was the addition of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute's Police Staff and Command course. First convened at the Academy in the January 1987, the course was 10 weeks in duration and contained a curriculum identical to that offered at Northwestern University. Ohio was only the second state to offer this course outside of Northwestern's campus.

Highway safety was advanced immeasurably in May 1986 when the long-awaited Mandatory Safety Belt Usage Law finally went into effect. Important in this development was the tireless work of the Ohio Safety Belt Coalition (of which the division was an active member) which worked to build grass-roots support for the measure. According to the law, motorists could only be warned for infractions during the first 60 days. After that (beginning July 4, 1986) officers could, at their discretion, begin issuing citations. During the second half of 1986, over 60,000 written warnings and 43,000 citations were issued by troopers. In addition, 227 "Saved by the Belt" awards were presented during those six months.

The mandatory use law came at a very good time as the speed limit on over 900 miles of Ohio's interstate highway system was increased to 65 miles per hour the following year. A popular change with motorists, the increased speed limit would have the unfortunate effect of ending an impressive seven-year streak of highway death reduction in Ohio.

To complement the many advances in highway safety during this time, the division launched a expansive drive to impede the flow of illegal drugs on Ohio highways. Operation CIN (Confiscate Illegal Narcotics) was initiated in 1986 (shortly after President Ronald Reagan signed the 1.7 billion dollar Federal Drug Bill) with the development of a training curriculum designed to assist troopers in detecting illegal drugs during the course of normal traffic stops. By June 1987, all field officers had completed the training and were integrating the new practices into their activities. The program produced immediate results, with drugs seizures increasing dramatically in all categories.

The incredible success of Operation CIN equated to large increases in Crime Laboratory submissions. This prompted the division to request, and subsequently obtain, federal funds to acquire additional laboratory equipment. Later, additional federal funds were obtained for more in- depth training of field officers.

Along with increasing contact with drug offenders came the additional dangers associated with dealing with those involved in the drug trade. This, and other officer safety concerns led the replacement of the old Smith and Wesson .38 caliber service revolver. The new weapons, Smith and Wesson model 681 (.357 caliber) service revolvers, were placed into service in 1987. This also precipitated the purchase of updated accessories, such as new speed loaders (which had been in use since about 1981) and leather goods.

Several new employee classifications were added in mid-1987 to enhance the division's overall capabilities. In July, the Patrol's Fairground Security (post 96) was upgraded with the transfer of six police officers from the Ohio Expo Commission. The new officers (who received the new rank of Police Officer) were assigned to the fairgrounds on a permanent basis under the command of Sgts. Samuel E. Hamblin and Donald C. Wood. Distinctive blue uniforms were issued to the new police officers.

It was also mid-1987 when the rank of radio dispatcher 2 was added to the division rank structure. At that early date, only ten dispatchers were assigned the new rank; later the rank would be reserved for any dispatcher having completed two years of service. To assist post dispatchers, the position of clerical specialist was initiated at 27 posts. Clerical specialists for the remainder of the posts were added the following year.

In August 1987, Tpr. Terri A. Marlin earned the distinction of becoming the first female Highway Patrol sergeant. She assumed her new duties as an assistant post commander at Granville.

The latest generation of post facilities became reality in 1988 as the division approved a new, cluster-style design for its Wapakoneta post. Incorporating over 5,500 square feet, the layout includes three separate (yet connected) sections, divided by function, which house office space, squad and breath testing rooms, locker rooms, a dispatching area, a 50-seat meeting room, and garages. The design was an improvement over another new design used in the construction of the Mt. Gilead Post (which replaced Mt. Vernon in 1984), both in terms of space and functionalism. The Wapakoneta Post was officially dedicated on April 16, 1989, ending a 25-year stay in the cramped St. Marys post on Celina Rd. Since the opening of the Wapakoneta facility, similar ones have been completed in Norwalk, Defiance, New Philadelphia, and Marysville.

Colonel Walsh retired from service on May 15, 1989, after over 31 years of service (29 and one-half in uniform). Three days later, Major Thomas W. Rice, commander of the Office of Personnel since 1985, was sworn in as the division's tenth superintendent.

One of Colonel Rice's first official acts as superintendent was the creation of a deputy superintendent of operations position in his staff. Captain Richard A. Curtis, commander of the Telecommunications and LEADS section, was selected to fill the newly created position at the rank of major. The following year, the position was upgraded to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Another personnel move was the appointment of the division's first chaplain. Father Alan M. Sprenger, a Cleveland native, was selected to be the first division chaplain.

Prior to Colonel Walsh's retirement, the division underwent an intensive, week-long assessment by members of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). The inspection capped a 30-month process in which the officers, led by accreditation manager Captain Howard E. Shearer, worked to assure that the division would be in compliance with all 909 applicable CALEA standards at the time of the inspection. In July 1989, accreditation was granted at the national CALEA meeting held in Columbus.

Maintaining the exacting, professional standards outlined by CALEA proved to be an excellent foundation on which to build a more efficient and effective agency. One example was the placement of voice recorders in Patrol posts which marked an important improvement in the division's communications system. CALEA standards also ensure policies and procedures are up to date with current legislation and technology.

Another outgrowth of accreditation was the development of a strategic planning process to outline Patrol growth and development. Following months of study, a team of 59 employees, representing all classifications and levels of Patrol personnel, spent two days developing the division's first Five-Year Strategic Plan. Implemented in mid-1990, the Five-Year Plan outlined the basic principals of operation, and defined economic, legislative, personnel, training, and operational assumptions around which specific goals could be formulated.

CALEA accreditation and the Five- Year Strategic Plan would prove invaluable as division operations became greatly expanded in the 1990s.

Among a myriad of new enforcement tools and responsibilities during this time was the implementation of sobriety checkpoints. The first Highway Patrol sobriety check points were held during the busy July 4th weekend in 1989. After that, the program was put on hold until a test case brought before the U. S. Supreme Court in 1990 affirmed the constitutionality of the checkpoints and outlined the guidelines necessary for their use. According to the Court, a highway selected for a checkpoint must have a history of alcohol-related crashes and impaired driver violations, and the checkpoint must employ a truly random process for diverting and checking vehicles. Important to the efficient operation of a sobriety checkpoint was the acquisition of portable breath testers (PBTs). The PBT, though not a court-admissible blood-alcohol test, proved a highly ac curate means to determine if a formal test should be ad ministered. Used in conjunction with other roadside sobriety tests, PBTs proved themselves to be a quick and reliable means to establish a motorist's level of intoxication. Many of the original PBTs were obtained through donations from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Nationwide Insurance.

A monumental task was handed the division (as well as other similar agencies across the nation) with the passage of the Commercial Motor Safety Act of 1986. The new law, which took effect January 1, 1990, required each state to restructure its commercial drivers licensing (CDL) system so that commercial operators would be required to demonstrate their competence in safely driving the type of vehicle they use in the course of their employment.

Before the program went into effect, it was necessary to train driver examiners and CDL supervisors in the new requirements and test procedures. A "hotline" was established to answer questions about the new requirements, and CDL personnel spoke to interested groups to address their concerns and inquiries about the new procedures. Finally, a model CDL facility was established in Obetz (just south of Columbus) from which the Driver and Vehicle Services section could administer the statewide program.

During the first year of the new requirements, Highway Patrol personnel administered approximately 138,000 CDL tests.

With the new testing requirements came increased commercial enforcement. Such efforts included commercial inspection operations held jointly by the Patrol and the Public Utilities Commission (PUCO). The first such inspections were held in September 1990 at the Delaware and Bowling Green scale facilities. Of 5,000 vehicles checked over a 24-hour period, nearly 1,000 were diverted to the inspection site and 61 placed out of service for violations such as log book and driving time violations.

Another development in commercial enforcement was the completion of the first "weigh-in-motion" scale facility. Erected on I-90 in Ashtabula County, the new technology enables inspectors to weigh trucks as they travel up to 25 miles per hour over the scales.

The continuing effort against the transportation of illegal drugs was greatly enhanced with the acquisition of six drug detection dogs in mid-1990. Obtained with assets seized in drug arrests, the dogs and six handlers (selected from the ranks), completed several weeks of training in early 1990 and went into action on April 11, 1990. Slightly more than two weeks later, canine "Rex" alerted his handler, Tpr. Robert J. Burns, to over 70 pounds of marijuana concealed in the bed of a truck, recording the first major dog-related drug seizure. On the same day, canine "Dingo" alerted to $6,000 in U. S. currency after an arrest, making it subject to forfeiture.

Initial results proved the dogs to be far more effective and accurate than expected. They were "guaranteed" to be able to detect quantities of drugs as little as six grams, but it was found that their tremendous sense of smell enabled very minute quantities of drugs, even drug residue on currency or the carpet of a vehicle. Their effectiveness led to the acquisition of several more canines and, today, the division employs 15 canine teams.

To augment the canine drug program, 15 two-officer Traffic and Drug Interdiction Teams (TDITs) were placed into service the following year. The TDIT teams, strategically placed around the state, undertake normal traffic enforcement duties with special emphasis on detecting couriers of illegal narcotics. Since the formation of the TDITs, extraordinary amounts of drugs have been seized, with seizure records continually being smashed with larger, more valuable busts.

Auto title fraud cases, as well as drug cases, have resulted in the confiscation of a great deal of valuable property, such as vehicles, jewelry, electronic devices, and U. S. currency. The most visible of these forfeited items was a 1988 Camaro IROC, which was equipped with pursuit lights and Patrol markings and issued to District Troopers of the Year for temporary use on routine patrol. The seized vehicle was the first sport coup ever used by the division for regular patrol. Later, the Auto Title Fraud unit confiscated three red Camaros and a Pontiac Firebird, which were also fitted with pursuit lights and used by troopers on the highways.

The COMMAND team was up dated during this time to ensure the Patrol's ability to respond to dangerous and unusual situations. The Special Response Team (SRT), comprised of volunteers from posts within 50 miles of Columbus, took shape in early 1991 as members began regular and rigorous training sessions. Under the command of Captain R. F. Welsh, the team is cross- trained in weapons and chemical agent use, extraction techniques, and rapid response methods. Regular training sessions and advanced equipment and weaponry ensure the team is prepared to respond at any time. The rapid response of the Patrol's SRT Team was illustrated in April 1993, when a fist-fight escalated into a full-scale siege at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.

A unit developed to employ advanced crash reconstruction techniques to determine causation in crashes also began providing impressive results. In 1991 alone, the Crash Reconstruction Unit completed 93 cases, 46 of which resulted in guilty verdicts against defendants. In another 45 cases, defendants decided not to contend Patrol findings after being confronted by crash reconstruction evidence, resulting in a guilty plea rather than trial. Only two of the 93 cases completed in 1991 resulted in not guilty verdicts. Officer safety concerns related to, among other things, the increasing firepower of street criminals, led to the approval of an "officer safety package" in 1991. Included in the package was funding to purchase improved sidearms (the current double-action, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol) and upgraded body armor. Also included in the package was improved handcuffs, as well as rechargeable metal flashlight for each cruiser. The new equipment was introduced in phases, with the first districts receiving the upgraded equipment in early 1992.

Preparations for another equipment upgrade - the 800MHz communications system - also moved quickly in mid-1991. Cited as a "pathway to the 21st century," the new system will allow: more effective communications within the Patrol and other state agencies; the accommodation of mobile data terminals, vehicle locators, and telephone interphases; and consolidation of dispatching services.

The new communications system will be a part of a central dispatching facility located on State Route 161 near Beightler Armory in Franklin County. The central dispatching facility will house the general headquarters communications center and Columbus district staff and support functions, as well as communications functions for the Emergency Management Agency, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Ohio Department of Transportation. Groundbreaking for the facility was held in August 1993. In addition to the anticipated 800 MHz upgrade, a new primary radio tower for the Columbus District was placed on 22-acre site in western Licking County. The new 360-foot tower and improved equipment will be linked to the central dispatching facility by microwave. The sum of these improvements will allow for steady growth and development of statewide radio capabilities.

Another enhancement in radio operations was the establishment of a central radio installation facility. Central Installation assumed the task of equipping Patrol vehicles with radios and related apparatus, enabling district technicians (who previously performed those tasks) to concentrate on the repair and maintenance of other vital equipment.

With Ohio's ratio of uniformed officers to population ranking below that of every state agency except one, Colonel Rice and his planners approached the legislature with a request for funding for an additional 127 troopers. The request was approved in full in mid-1991.

The additional manpower would be sorely needed as operational responsibilities continued their rapid expansion. One example of this expansion was the addition of Cleveland Post 18 in late 1991. The post was established to promote greater compliance to the 55 miles per hour speed limit on the busy I-480 corridor which runs through four counties and several municipalities. Prior to the establishment of the Cleveland Post, troopers patrolled Interstate 480 (at the request of area police departments who lacked sufficient manpower to do so) on federally funded overtime.

As an extension of the push for additional manpower, the division began an intensive drive to recruit qualified minority candidates. Realizing that many qualified individuals have limited exposure to the primarily rural Highway Patrol, Colonel Rice assigned two officers to dedicate a full-time effort toward presenting career opportunities to urban youth and young adults.

Another move to increase available manpower was a major reorganization and revitalization of the Auxiliary program. The first major step toward this goal was the approval of new Auxiliary General Orders on April 10, 1991. Among the changes for the revitalized Auxiliary included: the establishment of district training sites; a revised selection process which closely resembles that used for troopers; the division of Auxiliary groups on a post level, rather than a county level; and a new retirement age of 65. In addition, prospective Auxiliaries need not be a member of the American Legion as before. Finally, for the first time women were approved for active Auxiliary status.

Auxiliary officers' duties remain the same as in the past, but individuals are now evaluated and assigned tasks for which they are best trained/suited. After months of recruiting and planning district training sessions, new members of the Auxiliary began filling the ranks. Since the revitalization, over 260 new officers have entered Auxiliary service.

The REDDI program initiated during the 1980s was modernized for the 1990s with the "1-800-GRAB-DUI" toll-free number to report intoxicated drivers. To encourage participation, a massive public information drive was launched, and "1-800-GRAB-DUI" highway signs and license plates for police cruisers appeared throughout the state. In just under a year of the program, over 18,000 calls to 1-800-GRAB-DUI were recorded. The program was later ex tended to cellular phone users with the "*DUI" program. With statistics indicating that the majority of DUI arrests represented persons who were multiple DUI offenders, progressive steps were taken to assure those lawbreakers were identified as such at the time of enforcement. The Multiple Offender Program, involving police officers from departments throughout the state, was launched to target multiple DUI offenders, especially those who continue to drive while under suspension for DUI. Armed with "Hot Sheets" listing multiple offenders from their area, police are better able to assure that multiple infractions are identified, with suspects therefore subject to the fullest ex tent of new, progressive DUI laws. Among the penalties faced by convicted multiple DUI offenders are jail terms, vehicle immobilization, and vehicle forfeiture.

Several instances in which Patrol personnel were honored deserve special mention. In 1991, the Federal Aviation Administration feted the Aviation section for its outstanding record of 120,000 accident-free flying hours. This remarkable record was achieved despite the rigorous demands of flying in the course of police duties such as en forcing traffic laws, missing and escaped persons searches, and marijuana eradication flights.

Another important award was bestowed upon Captain Robert F. Welsh. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, a division of the Department of Treasury, presented its 1991 Award of Excellence in Law Enforcement Training for Individual Achievement (the first ever) to Captain Welsh for his "React-Fire-Win" course. "React-Fire-Win" was designed by Captain Welsh to teach officers to be mentally prepared when they find themselves involved in a gunfight. The lessons incorporate the use of the "red handle" gun, adapted by Captain Welsh, which fires a primer with a cotton ball projectile. The lesson has been used throughout the United States, Canada, and South America.

Finally, the entire division was honored in 1992 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for outstanding performance in the National Safety Belt Usage campaign.

All the accomplishment, sacrifice, and heroics outlined in this book can only scratch the surface of the glorious first 60 years of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The look of the Patrol has changed in those 60 years — but the mission of saving lives and promoting true highway safety through courteous, firm, and fair enforcement of traffic laws remains the same. And that mission will continue — through the 75th, 100th, and all subsequent anniversaries — thanks to the firm foundation upon which the Patrol today rests, the dedication of its many employees, and the adherence to principles — begun by O. W. Merrell and Colonel Lynn Black, and continued through each successive generation -- which have weathered the test of time.