<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3HeF2r_1GYdXV2F00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3HeF2r_1GYdXV2F00" width="1200" height="675" ><figcaption>From left: Andrew Guanciale, chair of COTC's Board of Trustees; James Cyphers, OPOTA Executive Director; James Rease, commander of COTC's police academies; Matthew J. Smith, PhD, Ohio State Newark dean and director; Sarah R. Wallace, board chair of the Thomas J. Evans Foundation; John M. Berry, PhD, COTC president; Melissa Osborn, mother of COTC police academy alumnus Thomas Cottrell; Doug Marston, Evans Hall volunteer campaign chair; Troy Balderson, Congressman; Chris Barbuto, Colonel in the Licking County Sheriff's Office | provided photo</figcaption></figure>Central Ohio Technical College officially opened Thomas J. Evans Hall as the new home for its public safety programs, according to an Oct. 23 announcement on the college's website. The facility, dedicated to police academies, held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 15 attended by state and local officials including Congressman Troy Balderson and Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy Executive Director James Cyphers.The newly renovated 6,500-square-foot building offers expanded space for law enforcement training with traditional classrooms, faculty offices, a tactical training area, an armory, and a command center. The project was made possible through a charitable lease from the Thomas J. Evans Foundation, which purchased the building that became Evans Hall. The transformation represents an investment of more than $3 million from state capital appropriations, institutional resources from Central Ohio Technical College and Ohio State Newark, as well as private philanthropy."It’s an investment in our students, our law enforcement partners, and the safety and well-being of the communities we serve," said John M. Berry, PhD, president of Central Ohio Technical College.Since 2014, every graduate of the college's Peace Officer Basic Training academy has passed the state certification exam. The Ohio Attorney General’s office recognizes Central Ohio Technical College as a STAR Training Center for law enforcement preparation."A strong community depends on having well-trained law enforcement officers who are ready to serve and to protect," Balderson said. "COTC meets that need right here." Col. Chris Barbuto of the Licking County Sheriff’s Office added, "As our region continues to grow and the demands on law enforcement evolve, having a high-quality training facility right here in Licking County is an incredible asset." Since 2024, forty graduating cadets have been hired by the sheriff's office to replace retiring deputies.A plaque in Evans Hall memorializes Thomas Cottrell—a Central Ohio Technical College alumnus killed in 2016 while working for Danville Police Department—and his mother Melissa Osborn addressed attendees at the opening event: "My hope is that every cadet who trains here will carry Tommy's legacy with them. Not simply as a reminder of the sacrifices that law enforcement officers sometimes make, but as an inspiration to serve with courage, lead with integrity and never lose sight of the value of every human life." Andrew Guanciale, chair of the Board of Trustees at Central Ohio Technical College, said, "COTC remains responsive to the evolving needs of our students, employers and communities. That means making thoughtful investments in programs, facilities and partnerships that will have a meaningful and lasting impact. Thomas J. Evans Hall is a perfect example of that commitment."</div></body>

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Central Ohio Technical College officially opened Thomas J. Evans Hall as the new home for its public safety programs, according to an Oct. 23 announcement on the college's website. The facility, dedicated to police academies, held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 15 attended by state and local officials including Congressman Troy Balderson and Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy Executive Director James Cyphers.

Central Ohio Technical College opens Thomas J. Evans Hall for public safety programs

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Central Ohio Technical College officially opened Thomas J. Evans Hall as the new home for its public safety programs, according to an Oct. 23 announcement 

Central Ohio Technical College opens Thomas J. Evans Hall for public safety programs

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