MVPD Captain Graduates From Leadership Academy

Mount Vernon Police Department Captain Scott McKnight attends the graduation ceremony for the 2022 Public Safety Leadership Academy, on the Columbus Campus of The Ohio State University.

MOUNT VERNON, June 23, 2022 – Mount Vernon Police Department Captain Scott McKnight graduated earlier this month from the Public Safety Leadership Academy, a program of college-level training offered in partnership with The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs.

Capt. McKnight was one of 30 law enforcement officers from across the state to participate in the program, which included officers on the municipal, county and state levels. The training was hosted at the Ohio Highway Patrol’s Training Academy and was offered at no cost to agencies via casino tax revenue distributed to the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services to support law enforcement training. The graduation ceremony took place in Columbus.

The 11-week course focused on developing leadership and management skills, understanding leadership styles through self-assessments, problem-solving, improving communication, and developing and improving the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and direct any division within a law enforcement agency.

Each of the participants had to complete a Capstone project. Capt. McKnight’s project focused on leadership training, professionalism and establishing police officers as leaders, and explored how to deliver these qualities from a servant leadership perspective.

The program is designed to help participants develop the skills necessary to manage any division within a law enforcement agency, demonstrate their preparedness for additional leadership responsibilities and improve the administration of justice.

Graduates had the opportunity to meet with executive law enforcement officials to discuss how to build positive relationships and deal with challenges in the field. Graduates also attended classes on overcoming the unique mental stressors of possible violence and best practices for law enforcement managers who deal with employees struggling with addiction issues.

Information courtesy of the City of Mount Vernon