Major Peyton Watts
| Major Peyton Watts joined the Patrol in May 1977 as a Radio Dispatcher at the Delaware Post. He began his training in September of the same year as a member of the 101st Academy Class. He was commissioned in January 1978 and was assigned to the West Jefferson Post. In September 1982 he transferred to the Office of Training and Recruitment. In July 1987 he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and transferred to the Zanesville Post. In April 1991 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and transferred to the Lima Post. In March 1994 he transferred to District 5 Headquarters. In January 1997 he was promoted to the rank of Captain and transferred to District 7 Headquarters. In March of that year he was transferred back to the Office of Training and Recruitment. In July 2001 he was promoted to the rank of Major. In April 2008 he transferred to the Office of Finance and Logistics. Originally of Columbus, Major Watts now resides in Powell with his wife, Taza. They have two children; Renee, 23, and Peyton, 20. |
I grew up on the south side of Columbus and graduated
from Columbus South High School in 1971. My parents were strict disciplinarians
which prepared me for the para-military atmosphere at the Highway Patrol
Academy. I joined the Highway Patrol in May 1977 and worked as a cadet
dispatcher at the Delaware Post prior to entering the Academy in September
of that year. I graduated on Friday, January 13, 1978, and was assigned
to the West Jefferson Post.
I had a memorable break-in period as the blizzard of ‘78 hit. I have had a diverse and rewarding career with the Highway Patrol, experiencing many assignments and opportunities. I was fortunate as a single parent to take advantage of the opportunities with minimal disruption to the life of my daughter at the time. In January 1982, I transferred to the Academy where I worked temporarily in recruitment before becoming a full-time instructor for just over five years. In July 1987, I accepted a promotion to sergeant and transferred to the Zanesville Post in eastern Ohio. While serving as assistant post commander I was assigned to provide security for a gubernatorial candidate. In April 1991, I received my first command when I was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to the Lima Post in northwest Ohio.
I became and integral part of the community and served on nine community and law enforcement boards. In April 1994, I was promoted to assistant district commander of the Piqua district in west central Ohio. The district was responsible for 11 counties and six patrol posts. We were the first to implement an aggressive driver enforcement program entitled Operation Alert.I was promoted to captain and assigned to the 12-county Cambridge district as commander in January 1997. After a short stay, I was requested to return to Columbus and head up the Recruitment and Minority Relations section. I implemented the first full-time field recruiters and ensured diverse representation in nine cadet classes. I transferred to the training side of the Academy in July 2000 and was promoted to major, in charge of the Office of Recruitment and Training in July 2001. As Academy Commandant, I have implemented numerous technological and training philosophy changes resulting in the Ohio State Highway Patrol being looked upon as having the model law enforcement training academy in the country.
Although I have had what I consider to be a successful career in the Patrol, my children have always been the focal point of my life. My greatest joys have been supporting and being there for them during their athletic endeavors. My daughter graduated from the University of Findlay with a master’s degree in education and was a Kodak All-American in basketball and the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She is now in Las Angeles pursuing an acting career, and my son is in his second year at Morehouse College studying investment banking.
I decided to work for a year after graduating high school to save money for college. Capital University had expressed interest in me attending due to my playing trombone in their jazz band my senior year in high school. I was 17 when I graduated and had to be 18 at most places where I applied. When I finally turned 18 in December I asked my father if I could get employed where he worked, which was a foundry in Delaware. I was not aware at the time what that entailed and he tried to discourage me, but I just wanted to work. While playing basketball in an industrial league I met my future wife and eventually married. The next thing I knew it was five years later and we had a child on the way. It was then that I realized I had to make a change.
During my commute from Columbus to Delaware I would drive by the Delaware Post and often see the troopers working on US23. I was always impressed by how professional they looked and I always had an interest in law enforcement. I decided to make the Patrol my change and applied at the Delaware post. The rest is history.
I would tell a young black female that she is a rare and needed commodity in our organization. I would advise her of the job security and benefits that would provide a secure future for her and her family. Her potential for advancement would be great and there are so many areas within the Patrol that are available for a rich, fulfilling career.
